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Who/What is a Deacon?
Why did Deacons disappear for so long?
What led the Council to restore the diaconate as a
permanent order of the Ministry?
What sort of training and formation do Deacons
receive?
How do you know if you have a vocation to be a
deacon?
How does a deacon balance family, job and ordained
ministry?
Can women be ordained as deacons?
Do deacons get transferred from parish to parish like
priests?
What do we call Deacons?
Bishops and Deacons: what is the relationship?
Why are seminarians ordained deacons before being
ordained to the priesthood?
What is expected of a deacon's wife?
If a married man is ordained a deacon do he and his
wife have to refrain from sexual activity?
What is the involvement of the candidate's family in
formation?
The ministry of the Word: What is the deacon's role?
What sacraments do deacons celebrate?
During Holy Week, what special functions does a
deacon have?
What liturgical vestments do deacons wear and what is
their significance?
Who/What is a Deacon?
A Catholic Deacon is a member of the clergy.
The title "Deacon" comes from the Greek word "diakonos"
which means servant or waiter.
A deacon is ordained by the Bishop into the
"Diaconate" - the order of Deacons. Once ordained a deacon is
permanently and publicly configured to Christ the Servant and shares
in the pastoral responsibility of the Bishop to care for all the
people in the diocese, in partnership with priests.
Deacons participate in a unique way in Mass, they
are official teachers and preachers of the Gospel and they preside
at celebrations of baptisms, matrimony, funerals and other forms of
community prayer. Deacons also visit the sick, the housebound,
those imprisoned and in need.
A deacon is someone who is also a sacramental sign
of Christ within the wider community and the deacon also serves as a
prophetic reminder to all the baptized of their own responsibility
to care for others.
See also:
Who is the Deacon? By Rev Mr Ed Faulk
Catholic Encyclopedia - Deacons
Guidelines for the Permanent Diaconate (Draft)
Catholic Answers - Bishop, Priest, Deacon
Definitions of Deacon
From
Holman Bible Dictionary
Deacons Yesterday and Today by Duane L.C.M. Galles
A
Short Introduction to the Ministry of Deacons - Rev Shane ODea
The Role of the Permanent Deacons
by Rev Mr Roger O'Donnell
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Why did Deacons disappear for so long?
Deacons have been a part of Church Life since her
earliest days. They did not disappear, however, have taken on
a different form and function. In the early days of the
Church, bishops were elected by the priests and often the person
best suited to succeed the Bishop was his primary assistant, the
deacon. The deacon knew him and his ministry better than anyone, so
these close associates of the Bishop were ordained to serve as
priests, rather than deacons and around the eighth century, the
order of deacons became a temporary or transitional stage that a man
went through on his way to ordination as a priest.
The Second Vatican Council asked that the permanent
diaconate be restored in the Latin Church and renewed where
necessary in the Eastern Catholic Churches.
Today the diaconate exists in both forms -
seminarians who are preparing for eventual ordination as priests are
still first ordained deacons and we also have permanent deacons who
remain in the order of the deacons.
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What led the Council to restore the diaconate as a
permanent order of the Ministry?
The horrors of World War II led many
leaders to discuss how the Church needed to be renewed - to be a
more effective witness of Christ to the modern world.
Following the horrific experiences of some in the Dachau
Concentration camp and the insights gained and written about later,
it was realized that the Church herself was a servant and that
the Church needed to respond to her own diaconal nature. A
sacramental diaconate, lived as a permanent state of ordained
ministry, could help restore that sense of service throughout the
Church. Deacons would have a mission from their bishop to be
leaders in service to the Church and the community: they would have
a responsibility to enflame and inspire the rest of the members of
the Church to serve others as well.
At the Second World Congress of the
Apostolate of the Laity in Rome (Oct. 5, 1957) Pope Pius XII gave an
address in which he acknowledged the growing interest in the
possibility of a renewed diaconate. He encouraged bishops and
theologians to continue their research into the "permanent"
diaconate.
Prior to the Second Vatican Council,
hundreds of bishops from around the world requested that the revived
diaconate be a topic of discussion during the Council.
The diaconate was discussed in
conjunction with the Bishop's own role, during the Second Vatican
Council. Deacons are subsequently mentioned in several
documents: the desire that the diaconate be renewed as a "proper and
permanent" order of the hierarchy is in paragraph #29 of The
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium).
This decision on the part of the
bishops of the Council was then implemented by Pope Paul VI in 1967,
with the document Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem.
See also:
A Brief History of the Permanent
Diaconate
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What sort of training and formation do Deacons
receive?
There is an intense period of
discernment and formation for those considering life as a deacon.
If it is determined by the Bishop
that a person may have a vocation to the diaconate he will be
admitted into a formal period of discernment, called 'aspirancy'.
During this period of prayer, study and personal formation the
man and his family (if married) reflect on the nature of ordained
ministry and whether this is something that the man might be called
to do. Following this the bishop may ask the man to pursue
additional human, spiritual, academic and pastoral formation, as a
formal candidate for possible ordination.
The period of formation involves
significant coursework in theology, scripture studies, homiletics
and Church History. Depending on the process put in place by
the Bishop this period may last from three to six years.
At the end of this time the
candidate's record and process of discernment is reviewed by the
Bishop. If he deems it appropriate and with the formal and
written consent of the candidates' wife the bishop may call the man
to ordination.
Following ordination, deacons - like
priests - are required to continue their formation through annual
retreats and regular ongoing formation opportunities.
See also:
Candidacy and Formation for Diaconate
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How do you know if you have a vocation to be a
deacon?
A person who thinks they might have a
vocation to the diaconate should first pray, then talk about it with
family and friends, then find out more by contacting the local
director of the diaconate or vocations person.
Often a person's "diaconal qualities"
have been observed and experienced by friends, family and members of
a Parish Community and a suggestion is made by them that one should
consider the possibility of becoming a deacon. Or, maybe,
through a person's own experience with deacons or through reading, a
person might become interested in the diaconate.
See also:
Catholic vocations ministry - Australia
Deacon Forum
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How does a deacon balance family, job and ordained
ministry?
Balance in any relationship is a
necessity and an ongoing "skill" that we must all continually adjust
to get it right.
Constant prayers and good
communication skills between the deacon and his wife, employer,
bishops and other partners in ministry are required.
One aspect of discernment and
formation is learning to juggle and balance multiple
responsibilities.
See also:
The Catholic Married Deacon in today's
Church Gary Stone
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Can women be ordained as deacons?
At this time, women are not ordained
to the diaconate. Pope John Paul II in Ordinatio
Sacerdotalis taught that he Church does not have the authority
to ordain women to the priesthood. It is not clear whether the
specific teaching of this document applies to Deacons a well: the
Church has not taught definitively on the subject of the possibility
of the ordination of women to the diaconate. Therefore, the
discussion and debate of women deacons remains open. However,
it does seem unlikely that women will be ordained to the diaconate
in the near future.
See also:
The Leadership Role of Women in the Early Eastern Church
By Wendy Mayer, Australia Catholic University, Brisbane
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Do deacons get transferred from parish to parish like
priests?
Yes, deacons may be transferred,
because when a person is ordained a bishop, deacon or priest, he is
at the service of the entire diocese, not just a particular parish
or ministry.
The bishop is responsible for putting the right "talent" to meet the
needs in the best location.
The deacon's family and professional responsibilities are considered
in the development and details of an assignment. Sometimes
bishops will do this on a regular basis - at other times, transfers
are requested by deacons and priests.
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What do we call Deacons?
Most deacons prefer to be called
simply by their first names, or "Deacon" followed by his first or
last name. If they have a professional title (such as doctor,
professor or a military rank) it is appropriate to refer to the
deacon by this title in professional matters.
Transitional deacons are referred to
as "Reverend Mister".
Both permanent and transitional
deacons are referred to as "Reverend".
See also:
The dress and address of deacons by Duane L.C.M. Galles
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Bishops and Deacons: what is the relationship?
In parish life it is easy to assume
that the deacon "works" for the priest, given that the priest has
pastoral responsibility for the parish and clergy assigned by the
bishop. However, theologically and historically deacons are
most closely associated with their bishops.
In the ancient Church deacons were
said to be the "eyes and ears, heart and soul" of the bishop and
deacons still have that special relationship to their bishop today.
The deacon is expected by his bishop to share in the bishop's
own apostolic ministry to care for the people of his diocese.
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What is expected of a deacon's wife?
No married deacon may be ordained
without the freely given, written consent of his wife.
The best opportunity to grow in her
knowledge of the diaconate and its possible impact on her and her
whole family - is to participate in the formation program to the
greatest extent possible. This will also allow her to give
informed consent to her husband's ordination and at the same time
encourage her own spiritual growth in discipleship.
In terms of official ministry, there
is no specific role for the deacon's wife - the deacon's ordination
does not confer any ministerial role to the deacon's wife.
Flowing out of her own baptism (not
as an outcome of her husband's ordination) many wives of deacons are
involved in ministry.
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If a married man is ordained a deacon do he and his
wife have to refrain from sexual activity?
Not at all! Married deacons and
their wives do not surrender any rights or responsibilities
resulting from their married state of life. Marriage and
orders are not incompatible sacraments; rather, there is a great
mutuality between them.
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What is the involvement of the candidate's family in
formation?
As experience with the diaconate
grows, the importance of the entire family to the formation of a
married permanent deacon is being realized.
Once it was considered that the
ordination of a deacon was only a matter of concern for the
candidate himself. Gradually it became clear that the
involvement of the wife in the process was crucial. Now, also
the entire family.
The
National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent
Deacons in the United States stresses the
importance of involving all members of the deacon candidate's family
during the formation process.
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The ministry of the Word: What is the deacon's role?
One of the most traditional
liturgical roles of the deacon has been the proclamation of the
Gospel at Mass.
During his ordination the deacon is
given the book of the Gospels by the bishop with the charge:
"Receive the Gospel of Christ,
whose herald you now are: Believe what you read, teach what
you believe, and practice what you teach."
By virtue of the ordination deacons
also "possess the faculty to preach everywhere" (Canon 764).
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What sacraments do deacons celebrate?
Current canon and liturgical law
permits deacons to serve as ordinary ministers of baptism.
("Ordinary" in this sense refers to the fact that deacons exercise
this ministry as a normal result of their ordination and the
faculties they have received from the Bishop.) They are
ordinary ministers for the distribution of Communion.
Deacons also officiate at weddings as the official witness of the
Church. Deacons do not confirm, ordain, reconcile (hear
confessions/give absolution) or anoint the sick.
In addition to these sacraments, deacons preach in virtue of their
ordination and they may also preside at various prayer services and
liturgies, including Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, public
recitations of the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, the Liturgy of the
Hours and Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest.
While they do not celebrate the anointing of the sick, they are
ordinary ministers of viaticum; deacons may also preside at wakes
and funerals.
See also:
The Deacon at Mass
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During Holy Week, what special functions does a
deacon have?
Holy Week is the most sacred time of
our entire liturgical year. The week begins with Palm Sunday
and extends through Holy Saturday. Holy Thursday, Good Friday
, and Holy Saturday are known collectively as the "Triduum".
The first day of the Triduum is the
celebration of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. This Mass
is frequently associated with the establishment of the Eucharist by
Christ at the Last Supper. It is also during the Mass on
Holy Thursday that we find the "washing of feet", which has
particular importance for deacons.
On Good Friday, the Church
commemorates Christ's death and burial. It is the one day of
the liturgical year in which we do not celebrate the mass.
During the Liturgy of the Word, the deacon proclaims the Gospel and
then introduces each of the intercessions directing the assembly to
kneel and stand. The deacon may assist with the Veneration of
the Cross, and then he brings the reserved hosts, consecrated at the
mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, to the altar for the
distribution of communion.
The week culminates with the great
Easter vigil after sunset on Holy Saturday. This is the heart
and soul of the liturgical year, in which the Church herself passes
through death to new life. The vigil begins with a Service of
Light, and the deacon has a crucial part in this service.
After the darkness of death experienced on Good Friday, the Church
gathers and the bishop or priest lights and blesses a new fire.
Then the Easter candle is brought forward and lit. A
procession by the faithful into the church is led by the deacon
carrying the lit candle. Three times the deacon pauses on the
way into the darkened church to proclaim "Christ, our Light!"
The people respond, "Thanks be to God!" Once the candle is
placed in its holder in the sanctuary, the deacon chants an ancient
hymn known as the
Exsultet.
Following the Service of Light, the
vigil continues with an extended Liturgy of the Word. The
deacon participates as he does in any Mass, as the ordinary
proclaimer of the Gospel. After the Liturgy of the Word, the
vigil continues with the sacraments of initiation and the deacon
assists the bishop or priest with the baptisms, receptions into full
communion and confirmations. Finally, during the Liturgy of
the Eucharist, the deacon exercises his normal functions. At
the end of the Mass, it is the deacon who sends the newly reborn
community back into the word with the dismissal.
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What liturgical vestments do deacons wear and what is
their significance?
As Members of the clergy, deacons
wear during Mass, many of the same basic vestments as priests and
bishops. This includes the amice, which is a rectangular linen
cloth used to cover the wearer's neckwear if the alb does not
completely cover street clothing.
The alb is a long white robe worn by
clergy to represent the white garment presented to all Christians at
Baptism. (If the alb is large, a cincture (a rope belt) bay be
worn to adjust the fit of the alb for ease of movement.)
Vestments unique to the deacon
include the stole and the dalmatic. Although the stole is worn
by all members of the clergy, it is worn in a different way by the
deacon. The stole is a long, narrow piece of cloth worn around
the neck of the minister. The Council of Toledo (AD 633)
directed that the deacon wear his stole over his left shoulder and
caught up on the right hip, because "the right side he must have
free, in order that he may without hindrance, do his service".
Stoles are worn over the alb (and
cincture) but under the dalmatic. The dalmatic was originally
an ordinary garment in the Roman province of Dalmatia. By the
fourth century, the dalmatic was worn over the alb by bishops and
deacons. By the ninth century, the Western Church decreed
that, at Mass, the priest wore a chasuble over the alb and the
deacon wore a dalmatic. The dalmatic is a
knee-length (or longer) vestment made with sleeves and slit down the
sides. As a general rule, if a priest wears a chasuble, the
deacon should wear a dalmatic. Like the chasuble, it is in the
color of the liturgical season.
See also:
Dalmatic by Paul Turner
Vestments
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Answers drawn from
101 Questions and Answers on Deacons, by William T. Ditewig
(With permission)
