Deaconesses in NAB?

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RockAndHoops

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I was reading the footnotes of 1 Timothy Ch. 3 in the NAB and I came across a part where Paul is talking about the qualifications of deacons, and verse 11’s footnote states that it is likely Paul “suggests that they too exercised ecclesiastical functions” (from the footnote).

Does anybody have a better explanation of what Paul is talking about here, since women obviously cannot receive Holy Orders?
 
They can receive the Order of Deaconess, but that order has fallen out of use in the Catholic Church, and indeed in most Apostolic Churches. You can find the regulations and roles of Deaconesses in the Canons of the early Councils and in other Early Church writings. Deaconesses were not, and are not, female Deacons, but a completely different order entirely.

In the modern Latin Church, their duties are already handled by other lay ministries, such as the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. They could theoretically return to use, but I don’t see that as very likely.

Peace and God bless!
 
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