Aspiring Deacon with questions

[FrDavid96]

From what I remember as a priest friend of mine who served in the US Air Force as a Chaplin, is that he reported to the Bishop in Washington DC who is head of the clergy serving in the Armed Services.

It’s a unique situation. The Archdiocese for the Military, USA does not actually incardinate clergy. All of their priests are incardinated in their home diocese or religious orders; while on temporary assignment with the military Archdiocese. On a day-by-day basis, they function just like incardinated clergy. The difference is that they aren’t permanent, so when they leave the military, they return to their own diocese or order.

It might be that the Permanent Diaconate is not open to military personnel, but I can’t say for sure.

Right. It is not. Not in any official capacity.

There are a handful of deacons who just happen to also be in the military (mostly reservists). But that’s pure coincidence. They don’t function as deacons in the military context—not officially; meaning that there is no military position for a deacon as their is for a priest (ie chaplain).

Also, keep in mind that Deacons can not minister Last Rites nor hear confessions.

So the function would be more limited in the military than in civilian life.

Jim

A deacon in good standing would always be welcome as “visiting clergy” so the priest-chaplain would not turn him away if he were asked to do a baptism or wedding or even preach at the occasional Sunday. However, he would have no assignment with the military Archdiocese, nor would the military consider him to be a member of the clergy.

 

[JoshuaIsLord]

In my Diocese it is a 4 year of formation and training. Our Deacon started his. After 2 years he had to start over because we got a new bishop.
So I would wait until you are out of the military and have established yourself in a permanent situation.