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Newbie2
Guest
Just out of interest, would you rather have a deacon assigned to your parish who was formerly a lay member of your parish, or does it make a differenct to you?
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nightwalker
Guest
I voted that I would prefer a Deacon come from the parish he is to serve, but only as an ideal.
The deacon, historically, was called from among the people they were to serve (Greek deacons to serve among the hellenic community that was being neglected in Jerusalem). A ‘native’ deacon would have less of a need to acclimate to another parish on top of a new role in the parish.
My current parish has four ‘native’ deacons (+ one had moved into the parish during formation for diaconate and transferred when his parish was to be merged). There is another deacon at a neighboring parish who was ‘native’ to our parish and transferred when the new parish was erected (he is also ‘native’ to that parish).
The parish I will be living in come August (God willing) only has one Deacon (native, of course). I do not think it would be wrong for the bishop to request that one of the deacons from the parish with five transfer to the parish with one, but that is to do with the circumstances of each parish.
The deacon, historically, was called from among the people they were to serve (Greek deacons to serve among the hellenic community that was being neglected in Jerusalem). A ‘native’ deacon would have less of a need to acclimate to another parish on top of a new role in the parish.
My current parish has four ‘native’ deacons (+ one had moved into the parish during formation for diaconate and transferred when his parish was to be merged). There is another deacon at a neighboring parish who was ‘native’ to our parish and transferred when the new parish was erected (he is also ‘native’ to that parish).
The parish I will be living in come August (God willing) only has one Deacon (native, of course). I do not think it would be wrong for the bishop to request that one of the deacons from the parish with five transfer to the parish with one, but that is to do with the circumstances of each parish.
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Cristiano
Guest
I honestly do not care where the Deacon is coming from. The more the better!
The Deacon is assigned by the Bishop to a specific parish. However, the Bishop usually discusses the assignment with the Deacon before communicating his decision.
If the parish of origin has the need for a Deacon then there is a good possibility that the individual will be assigned to the parish of origin. The probability increases even more if the rest of the family is involved in ministries in the parish of origin.
The pastor of the parish of origin can decide to support part or all of the cost for the diaconate studies with the understanding that the Bishop will give that parish first consideration, even if it is not binding on the Bishop.
The Deacon is assigned by the Bishop to a specific parish. However, the Bishop usually discusses the assignment with the Deacon before communicating his decision.
If the parish of origin has the need for a Deacon then there is a good possibility that the individual will be assigned to the parish of origin. The probability increases even more if the rest of the family is involved in ministries in the parish of origin.
The pastor of the parish of origin can decide to support part or all of the cost for the diaconate studies with the understanding that the Bishop will give that parish first consideration, even if it is not binding on the Bishop.
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Melissa
Guest
It doesn’t really make a difference to me, but as a practical matter, all three of our current deacons + the one currently in formation have been lay parishioners at my parish first, deacons serving at this parish second, and from what I’ve gathered, other parishes in this diocese also have deacons who were lay parishioners there before becoming deacons serving that same parish.
I voted that I’d prefer to have a deacon who had been a member of my parish but it doesn’t really matter to me.
When my current parish was established in 1988 we picked up one of the deacons from the old parish that split in two. Then we got another deacon who relocated into our parish.
Since then we’ve had seven other parishioners who were ordained as deacons, (one of whom has since died.) I was at least slightly acquainted with all of them (or with their spouse) prior to the time they entered into the diaconate formation program.
It just seems more normal to me that deacons would come from among the parishioners. That’s how it was at my previous parishes.
I know that any of our deacons will likely be called to help out in other area parishes but so far they all serve much of their time in our parish. Some of them do serve as chaplains at some county facilities.
When my current parish was established in 1988 we picked up one of the deacons from the old parish that split in two. Then we got another deacon who relocated into our parish.
Since then we’ve had seven other parishioners who were ordained as deacons, (one of whom has since died.) I was at least slightly acquainted with all of them (or with their spouse) prior to the time they entered into the diaconate formation program.
It just seems more normal to me that deacons would come from among the parishioners. That’s how it was at my previous parishes.
I know that any of our deacons will likely be called to help out in other area parishes but so far they all serve much of their time in our parish. Some of them do serve as chaplains at some county facilities.
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OutinChgoburbs
Guest
I’ve been in parishes under both circumstances, so it doesn’t matter.
What does seem to matter is that the deacon realize he serves the parish to which he’s been assigned.
What does seem to matter is that the deacon realize he serves the parish to which he’s been assigned.
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NewUlm1976_2000
Guest
It doesn’t matter to me.
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lak611
Guest
I did not vote because in my diocese, deacons serve the parish they belong to. Deacons stay in the same parish they were part of before they were ordained. They only get assigned to another parish if they and their families change parishes due to moving or the parish closing. My parish had a deacon, but he and his family moved out of state. We currently do not have a deacon, and there are no men from my parish who are studying to become deacons.
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stbruno
Guest
Several years ago, our diocese instituted a policy that says that any deacon who serves a parish for a period of ten years and is under the age of 60, he will be transferred to serve another parish.
However, if he is the only deacon assigned to the parish, he will not be transferred so as not to leave the parish without a deacon.
I fit that category.
However, if he is the only deacon assigned to the parish, he will not be transferred so as not to leave the parish without a deacon.
I fit that category.
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nightwalker
Guest
I have a problem with the rotation practices for priests and deacons, as these drive a wedge between the role of priest as spiritual father and the people, his children. The same difficulty would arise with deacons, the relationship is temporary.Several years ago, our diocese instituted a policy that says that any deacon who serves a parish for a period of ten years and is under the age of 60, he will be transferred to serve another parish.
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CB_Catholic
Guest
It doesn’t matter to me, but in my parish we have one Deacon, and we are the largest parish in the Diocese, while in my old parish, not quite as large, they have 4! I think it should be evened out a bit. Fortunately, a Deacon from another parish will now be helping us part time, but he volunteered to do this and had to get the Bishop’s permission. I think our sole Deacon is a bit overworked, esp. during the Christmas and Easter seasons.
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Pax_Vobiscum_57
Guest
It doesn’t bother my husband, and he’s not at our/my parish. Doesn’t bother me, either. However a prophet may be rejected in his own land, so it might be a good idea to have someone new come in as a deacon.
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ethelzguy
Guest
As priests get transferred at the behest of the Bishop, I think leaving deacons where they are provides a good sense of continuity.
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Joannm
Guest
My husband also is at a parish different than our home parish…but then again I work at a completely different parish so we never get to go to Mass together. Our diocese has just implemented a policy to transfer deacons after 5 or 6 years just as they do the priests. Only the deacons will usually only be transferred within their deanery, which means only a few miles away. I on the other hand work in a parish 20 miles away.It doesn’t bother my husband, and he’s not at our/my parish. Doesn’t bother me, either. However a prophet may be rejected in his own land, so it might be a good idea to have someone new come in as a deacon.
I think the policy in my diocese is that a deacon will be placed in his home parish whenever possible but he might be assigned to a position at another parish, typically within a 30 mile radius of the home parish. That would frequently be in the same deanery. Rural parishes might have larger area coverage.
While the bishop may have the authority to move a deacon around within a diocese, a bishop is usually wise enough to realize that he needs to keep the deacon’s family and secular employer happy too or he might lose that deacon altogether. So a bishop is unlikely to assign a deacon ***too ***far away from home.
While the bishop may have the authority to move a deacon around within a diocese, a bishop is usually wise enough to realize that he needs to keep the deacon’s family and secular employer happy too or he might lose that deacon altogether. So a bishop is unlikely to assign a deacon ***too ***far away from home.
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