Any Deacons out there?

[Tibbar]

I have a couple of questions that I hope you can help answer.

How do you balance a full time job and ministry/commitments as a Deacon?

What employment options are there for Deacons who wish to serve full time? Is the salary for such a position sufficient to support a family?

If one’s present employment requires one to travel a couple of times per year, will this interfere with one’s responsibilities as a Deacon?

How does on find down time between responsibilities to family, Church and employer?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Tibbar:

I have a couple of questions that I hope you can help answer.

How do you balance a full time job and ministry/commitments as a Deacon?

This is something that each deacon must work out with his pastor. In my case, with both my pastors since I have a dual assignment serving both a Latin Rite parish and a Melkite (Byzantine Rite) parish. What one takes on in the way of assignments is, of course, directly related to one’s secular work.

What employment options are there for Deacons who wish to serve full time? Is the salary for such a position sufficient to support a family?

In general, deacons who are in full-time paid ministry serve as parish administrators, deacon directors, or in some related capacity. Obviously the salary is not comparable to that of the secular world, but most make do. In general, however, the deacon is discouraged from seeking full-time employment with the Church since a major part of our ministry is to bring the Church to the workplace, to the stores where we shop, to the places we go for amusement.

If one’s present employment requires one to travel a couple of times per year, will this interfere with one’s responsibilities as a Deacon?

Generally speaking this is not an issue. One of the men I mentored through the formation program travels extensively in his job. It created a few problems during formation, but has not been a problem since his ordination.

How does on find down time between responsibilities to family, Church and employer?

Again, this is something the deacon and his wife have to work out. As I once pointed out to a priest who complained that he didn’t get his “day off” – deacons don’t get days off. We work five days a week and generally put in time at the church on the other two. Granted, those aren’t full days, but they are days in which we are laboring in God’s vineyard.

Deacon Ed

 

[netmilsmom]

Deacon Ed:

Deacon Ed

Fancy meeting you here!
Glad to see you!

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Deacon Ed

Please I assume you must go to seminary. But how long? Part time at school to become a deacon? I have thought of this. I thought I would have to give up my day jobs(plural). please explain? ( I love our Deacon Nick, he is great) Edit (Deacon Ed I’ve been asking God what to do next, i trust HE’ll tell some day in a whisper - so I best listen)

And Deacon’s wear cool stuff( although it makes you hot)

 

[SMHW]

If you are interested in becoming a deacon you need to contact your local diocese. (Your priest could probably give you info.) I think most dioceses have programs that meet at night and on weekends. Some expect the candidate’s wife, if he’s married, to participate too.

I think most places have programs that are 4-6 years in length, including a year or so of prayer and discernment.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

hilde the dog:

Deacon Ed

Please I assume you must go to seminary. But how long? Part time at school to become a deacon? I have thought of this. I thought I would have to give up my day jobs(plural). please explain? ( I love our Deacon Nick, he is great) Edit (Deacon Ed I’ve been asking God what to do next, i trust HE’ll tell some day in a whisper - so I best listen)

And Deacon’s wear cool stuff( although it makes you hot)

The actual location of the education that deacons get depends on the diocese. Here in Southern California the nearest seminary is nearly two hours away by car (depending on traffic that could be three hours). Thus, we took our classes at the chancery office. The process takes about four years, usually two nights a week or, in some places, a weekend a month. There is also field ministry under the supervision of a priest or deacon each of the first three years of formation. Classes included history of the Church, various theology and scripture classes, homiletics, canon law, pastoral counseling, and so on. All are designed to provide a basic foundation in ministry and Catholic teaching such that a deacon can survive. We also have a requirement for ongoing education to maintain and enhance our ability to serve.

As for “cool stuff” – I guess, but that’s not why one becomes a deacon. As for hit – try wearing Eastern vestments (clerics, cassock, sticharion, epimanikia/cuffs).

Deacon Ed

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Deacon Ed I hope by the Cool Stuff you took no offense, if you did I’m sorry. Actually about a month ago you gave a description of many of the vestments to me and it turns out that in the back of the sixth grade CCD book there is a description of the vestements and colors worn by the Priest/Deacon. We had a Priest that loved the Eastern vestments, he also loved incencse. I miss him, he instilled an admoration of the traditions of the Church in me

 

[Deacon_Ed]

hilde the dog:

Deacon Ed I hope by the Cool Stuff you took no offense, if you did I’m sorry. Actually about a month ago you gave a description of many of the vestments to me and it turns out that in the back of the sixth grade CCD book there is a description of the vestements and colors worn by the Priest/Deacon. We had a Priest that loved the Eastern vestments, he also loved incencse. I miss him, he instilled an admoration of the traditions of the Church in me

No, I didn’t take offense at the term “cool stuff” – my point was that the “cool stuff” is frequently quite warm.

I’m glad there are priests that inspire people to love the things of the Church!

Deacon Ed

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Thanks and I hope you saw that the cool stuff makes you hot. When joining the CC several years ago Deacon Nick was always at RCIA and so I have always had great reverence for our (my) Deacon, he was very smart and very patient. Who knows maybe I’ll grow to be like you guys. (My wife always says I’m a big kid)

 

[Brendan]

hilde the dog:

Deacon Ed

Please I assume you must go to seminary. But how long? )

I’m in formation to the Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Here in Detroit, it’s a 4 year, 2 night a week process with one Saturday each month as a community Formation Day.

During the summers between classes, the Deacon Canidates work on Service Projects. It might be work with the poor, those in hospitals, those in jail ect…

Here is what the Academic work looks like.

aodonline.org/SHMS/Academic+Programs+13375/Permanent+Diaconate+6001/Permanent+Diaconate+Program.htm

Most of the classes are conducted at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, though classes are also offered at various locations around metro Detroit.

There will be some variation between dioceses, but a new “Directory” of Norms for the education of deacons has been approved, so there should not be that much variation now.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Thanks Brendan I was wondering how did you decide to become deacons or in your case formation. This pops into my thoughts periodically especially after becoming a reader and CCD aide, which I really enjoy. BTW I hear the pays not great but the benefits are esp that life insurance program

 

[cameron_lansing]

Tibbar:

I have a couple of questions that I hope you can help answer…

You’ve received some excellent responses to which I could add little if anything new.

However, the website of our diocese (which is next door to Detroit’s) may provide an additional useful example of discernment and formation.

home.catholicweb.com/FormationDioceseofLansing/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=21546&From=Home

In the case here, programs and activities are offered throughout the diocese, with a rotation of sites.

God bless all of you in discerning and following God’s will!

 

[Brendan]

hilde the dog:

Thanks Brendan I was wondering how did you decide to become deacons or in your case formation. This pops into my thoughts periodically especially after becoming a reader and CCD aide, which I really enjoy. BTW I hear the pays not great but the benefits are esp that life insurance program

I my case, I had the thought pop in and out for a year or two. I did some web searces on the subject, but not too much beyond that.

The ‘critical moment’ came at a Catholic Men’s Conference in Detroit a few years ago. I happen to be sitting next to a Byzantine Catholic Deacon.

We ended up spending most of the conference in a corner discussing the Diaconate. They have had 2000 years of a permanant diaconate, so he had LOTS to share.

Later that summer, after talking things over with my wife, we went to an information seminar on the Diaconate put on by the Archdiocese. That’s where I found out more specifics about the program.

I started taking classes at the seminary while the application was in process (the application process is about 6 months long.)

I was accepted last year, but entered formation this year, as I had an extended out of town work project scheduled last winter, as well as the birth of our 4th child.

What I would recommend is that you spend a lot of time in prayer, if you are married, discuss this heavily with your wife (you won’t get far in the process if you don’t have the support of your wife). Meet with as many deacons as you can. I can pretty much assure you that they all have different ministries.

Don’t expect it to be a source of employment. That is pretty rare.

Here in Detroit, Deacons are the only ones appointed to be Parish Administrators\Pastorial Life Administrators. That position will never fall to a lay person or non-ordained religious. But the Cardinal has so far only chosen deacons who have a significant amount of secular management experience. A few others might serve as a parish DRE or teach in a High School.

But that is really about it. The vast majority of deacons perform this ministry with no financial recompense at all.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Thanks

I’ve in passing have floated the idea past my wife. No negative reaction. I’m sure it scares her as it did when I began to read and CCD aide. (She hates being in front of people). But she has become a huge support in those endevers

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Cameron

I did not realize your lansing was the city. I grew up in the holland - zeeland area. Now you may know why I joined the CC via RCIA

 

[cameron_lansing]

hilde the dog:

Cameron

I did not realize your lansing was the city. I grew up in the holland - zeeland area. Now you may know why I joined the CC via RCIA

Not to take the thread off track, but I’m guessing because of divine election and grace? Or was that a reference to our separated brethren and sistren with blond hair in the reform tradition?

A lot of people have trouble realizing Lansing is a city.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Cameron I apoligize to all if I moved the thread discussion. My parents were supportive when I joined the CC instead of the CRC (Christian Reformed Church, ardent Calvinist, Calvin College me class of 88) Now that I read/lector and aide at CCD, I wonder what my parents think is next…I don’t think they understand that I can be Deacon. I now live in the DC area. Yes I do have dirty blonde hair