Deacon Greys?

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Embroidered polo shirts? Is this a joke that I’m not getting?
No it’s not a joke. Several clerical supply companies sell polo shirts with embroydered crosses with a diaconal stole on them.

Like this

http://mckaychurchgoods.com/arch.jpg

http://www.monmouthembroidery.com/images/jackets_0002_.jpg

http://www.monmouthembroidery.com/images/jackets_0008_.jpg

On the plus side, this webside does have these ( I would consider that an acceptable compromise)

http://www.monmouthembroidery.com/images/clergy3.jpg

monmouthembroidery.com/Deacon-Apparel.html
 
I am a Permanent Deacon in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. I was accepted and began my training 3 years after my conversion from the Prostestant Church (Methodist). My wife who was required to attend and participate fully in the training was 2 years a Catholic when we began. There was concern for us at the begining but the decision was made to let us start the formation process. It has been over 4 years since Ordination and we are continually stengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit in this Ministry. I think it really depends on the individuals involved and the Grace of God.

I do not wear clericals because the leadership of the LA Church guided us in this way. (I do have an embroidered polo shirt though.) Very often though, I feel appropriate clerical clothes would be a good tool to help those I serve.

Deacon Chris
 
Traditionally in our diocese permanent deacons do not wear the blacks with a collar except when service as a chaplain in prison ministry. It not only serves as a symbol of our ordination but it also serves as a tool of respect and protection from the inmates themselves.
 
In the Eastern Church, there are “white” clergy and “black” clergy… “white” clergy are those who are married and usually wear grey or blue clerical garb including cassocks.

“Black” clergy are those who are celibate or are widowed; they wear black clerical garb including cassocks…

Hope this helps…
 
I am a permanent deacon (recently ordained). In our diocese a permanent deacon is asked to wear clerics when he is acting in an official way (at a Wake or other formal prayer service, etc.). There are a few deacons who work for the diocese or a parish on a full time basis who wear their clerics all the time.
However, grey is not an option in our diocese - the official color is black and that’s all our Bishop will allow.
Diocese of Duluth Mn. here. We buried our mother last week and the permanent Deacon (old friend of our family) wore grey clerics while reciting the Holy Rosary at her wake. He was acting in an official manner since no priest was present at the wake.
 
We have a transitional Deacon in residence for the summer at my Parish. He has worn grey and baby blue shirts with the collar. Wow. It was really a head turner the first time I saw him in Mass. I thought we had a visiting non-Catholic clergyman among us. 😃
 
We have a transitional Deacon in residence for the summer at my Parish. He has worn grey and baby blue shirts with the collar. Wow. It was really a head turner the first time I saw him in Mass. I thought we had a visiting non-Catholic clergyman among us. 😃
Least you knew he was a clergy men. 😃
 
Let’s also not forget that whatever difference in dress Eastern clerics might use to distinguish priests from deacons, to Western eyes they probably all look the same.

Every Byzantine (Orthodox or Catholic) deacon I know wears a clerical shirt and cassock and is addressed as Father Deacon Name.

Generally speaking, at least among the Slavs, a priest wears a cross. The style of the cross depends on whether he’s a simple priest, dean, archpriest, archimandrite, or mitrophoric.
 
Am I the only one here reading this and thinking, “If this 22-year old man can be ordained a deacon, then he** will** convert; otherwise he will not convert?” And the wearing of clericals is apparently a major consideration in the decision? :bigyikes:

The same goes for responses to the post that includes remarks such as, “So if he converts by the time he’s 30, he should be all set.” Many of the posts seem to view the diaconate as an enitlement for all men 35 and over, something that is there for the taking.

There is just a bit more in contemplating a call to holy orders than this. It is not like just trying out a new career. Time, perserverance, spiritual direction and prayer are called for. This goes tenfold for someone who is young and not even Catholic.
Yes, I think such a person who will convert only because he can become a cleric (deacon or priest) is not truly desiring to convert. One is only supposed to convert if they believe the religion is the true religion, clerical ordination allowed or not.
 
Yes, I think such a person who will convert only because he can become a cleric (deacon or priest) is not truly desiring to convert. One is only supposed to convert if they believe the religion is the true religion, clerical ordination allowed or not.
I did clarify my OP
 
The same goes for responses to the post that includes remarks such as, “So if he converts by the time he’s 30, he should be all set.” Many of the posts seem to view the diaconate as an enitlement for all men 35 and over, something that is there for the taking.

There is just a bit more in contemplating a call to holy orders than this. It is not like just trying out a new career. Time, perserverance, spiritual direction and prayer are called for. This goes tenfold for someone who is young and not even Catholic.
First of all chatter, did you notice the ‘winky’ after my comment? That means lighthearted humor.

Secondly, did you also happen to read that I am actually IN formation to the Diaconate. So yes, I DO know a bit about what it takes to discern a vocation to Holy Orders. And yes, I know it’s not for everyone.
 
In the Ruthenian tradion, grey is for Married clerics and clerks, black for unmarried. Both in Cassock and Clerical Shirt.

Deacons wear whichever is appropriate to their marital status.

One altar server at St. Nicholas is a married man; he wears a grey cassock under his sticheron.

In the (Roman) Archdiocese of Anchorage, permanent deacons wear no distinctive clerical garb (except liturgical vestments), and transitional wear the Clerical shirt in black.
 
Let’s also not forget that whatever difference in dress Eastern clerics might use to distinguish priests from deacons, to Western eyes they probably all look the same. Then again, to them a deacon is still a sort of Father, so that appellation wouldn’t be totally inappropriate. If I ever become a deacon, I’m wearing a cassock.👍
The cassock is the way to go. Hollywood even caught on for a moment.

http://metaphilm.com/images/pheatures/matrix_reloaded.jpg
 
Awwe. That picture was of Keaunu Reeves in the Matrix: Reloaded. He wore a cassock-like garment in that movie.
 
Permanent Deacons maintain secular employment. For example, what would a Deacon who happens to be a police officer wear? Or a surgeon? Or a Postal Carrier, Or any other position where particular clothing is required or expected.

This is the distinction between the priesthood and the permanent diaconate. In the priesthood, one’s livelyhood is a direct result of their clerical status, in the diaconate that is not the case.

In addition, the Deacon wearing clerics in secular employment could result in people mistakingly believing that the Church is providing a particular sanction to the Deacon.

For example, the Deacon\Lawyer might be arguing a case in a trial and the jury might errornously belive that it is the Deacon is somehow stating an Offical Church position on the guilt or innocence of a particular suspect.

All of these reasons have been deemed sufficent to the Holy Father that he released Permanent Deacons from the obligation (but not the right) to wear clerics.
Here I’ve just scored a convert and now you’re trying to break down my position! Well, I’m glad to concede your point, particularly as it is one I would have added had I been more worried about nuance. There would be certain times when, due either simply to job requirements or the desire to clearly demarcate the autonomous spheres of ecclesiastical and secular authority, it would be best for deacons to set aside their clerical garb. I was mainly speaking in terms of a general rule, though, with an implied dichotomy of deacons should only wear clerical garb when performing a ministerial function vs. deacons should normally wear such garb even when not ministering. I think the general rule of maintaining clerical dress still functions just fine for factory workers, engineers, doctors, biologists, surveyors, cooks, professors, office managers, mechanics (oh, to launder that cassock!) etc., barring, of course, any specific policy or safety constraints. The main point is that, leaving room for negotiation of when exactly we think other concerns merit doffing the blacks, deacons shouldn’t be expected to remove them just because Mass has ended.
 
Diocese of Duluth Mn. here. We buried our mother last week and the permanent Deacon (old friend of our family) wore grey clerics while reciting the Holy Rosary at her wake. He was acting in an official manner since no priest was present at the wake.
In our diocese, when we do wake services, we wear an alb and a stole.
 
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