I think if the family are practicing Catholics, we do have Mass. But there is a large retirement community in my parish’s territory and it is often the case that a person who dies is the only practicing Catholic in the family. Such families often choose a funeral without a Mass. The other issue is that our pastor teaches at the seminary and so is not typically available for funerals on weekdays. If a family cannot supply their own priest and does not wish to/can not wait until the pastor is available, then a deacon is the only choice.SMHW:
Although I know […deacons presiding…] does happen, I would have intuitively thought that the vast majority of Catholic funerals include the Mass- which means of course the priest is presiding.
Deacons preaching homilies
- Thread starter Tis_Bearself
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
There are also cases where the family is having more than one funeral service, for example where the deceased is buried back in their hometown but you want to have a separate memorial service in the community where they were living at the time of their death. Typically you wouldn’t have the funeral Mass at the second service but might want a Catholic clergyman to conduct a prayer service. The deacon can do that.
There are also sometimes prayer services at the funeral home as part of the viewing before the day of the actual funeral (my father had one of these - it was a combination prayer service and VFW ceremony) and deacons can do those too.
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I can’t remember the last time I saw a priest at a vigil service or a graveside service in my parish or any neighboring parish. Those are almost exclusively handled by deacons.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
My dad had a priest at his vigil service, but that was several decades ago.
My mom had a priest at her graveside service, the same one who had just done the funeral. She had been active in the parish for about 50 years and I’m not sure if the parish had an active deacon at the time she passed away.
My mom had a priest at her graveside service, the same one who had just done the funeral. She had been active in the parish for about 50 years and I’m not sure if the parish had an active deacon at the time she passed away.
D
Diaconia
Guest
The training varies from diocese to diocese, but all diaconal candidates have homiletic courses.
A few years ago, the number of deacons in our archdiocese (200) surpassed the number of priests. Priests are relying upon deacons more and more to assist in pastoral duties as the number of priests continues to decline.
Most of the larger parishes have deacons, and most of them preach on a regular basis (typically once a month).
As others have mentioned it’s very similar to priests: some deacons are extraordinary preachers, better than most priests. Others are noticeably weaker. Most are somewhere in the middle; just like the presbyterate.
There are deacons that parishioners seek out when it’s their weekend to preach, just as there are people who call parishes to find out when Fr. X is preaching, so as to avoid him.
Certainly you are likely to see them at wakes and such, as noted above.
I covered at greater length in another thread how [both] priests and deacons can improve their preaching.
Personally I spend considerable time preparing a homily, typically around 6-7 hours for an eight-minute homily. That’s a suggested ratio from one of the documents on preaching that all priests and deacons study.
Be thankful for all your blessings,
Deacon Christopher
A few years ago, the number of deacons in our archdiocese (200) surpassed the number of priests. Priests are relying upon deacons more and more to assist in pastoral duties as the number of priests continues to decline.
Most of the larger parishes have deacons, and most of them preach on a regular basis (typically once a month).
As others have mentioned it’s very similar to priests: some deacons are extraordinary preachers, better than most priests. Others are noticeably weaker. Most are somewhere in the middle; just like the presbyterate.
There are deacons that parishioners seek out when it’s their weekend to preach, just as there are people who call parishes to find out when Fr. X is preaching, so as to avoid him.
Certainly you are likely to see them at wakes and such, as noted above.
I covered at greater length in another thread how [both] priests and deacons can improve their preaching.
Personally I spend considerable time preparing a homily, typically around 6-7 hours for an eight-minute homily. That’s a suggested ratio from one of the documents on preaching that all priests and deacons study.
Be thankful for all your blessings,
Deacon Christopher
S
Smurfie
Guest
is it true that a decon can preside a mass just not sandtify the mass for the bread and wine
C
CilladeRoma
Guest
No, a deacon cannot preside at Mass without a priest.
He can, however, preside at a Liturgy of the Word with Communion using preconsecrated hosts.
He can, however, preside at a Liturgy of the Word with Communion using preconsecrated hosts.
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7_Sorrows
Guest
Those studying for the diaconate and those who are deacons definitely need our prayers. Many don’t realize the commitment and study required for them to become Deacons and even after they are Deacons they still have to continue with studies. They are very helpful to the priests in doing funerals, baptisms, etc.
At my last parish we had at least 6 Deacons.
Z
Zach
Guest
So a deacon could technically preside over a Good Friday service since to the hosts are not consecrated on that day?
Tis_Bearself
Patron
Isn’t it the case that any qualified EMHC can preside over that? I seem to recall attending these types of “communion services” when the priest suddenly wasn’t available for Mass due to hospitalization or other emergency, and I don’t think deacons were conducting them.
You do need at least a deacon to do Benediction and repose the Blessed Sacrament though.
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semper_catholicus
Guest
13!?! That’s crazy! How big is your parish?
D
DisorientingSneeze
Guest
9500 registered families, which is just a bit smaller than the church I grew up in. All the Catholic Churches on this side of town are about that size because urban sprawl and population growth is pretty crazy over here. Not all of the churches are blessed with this many deacons and they are the reason our parish is able to have as many ministries as it does. A lot of them are nearing retirement age and there is very much an encouragement for parish men to discern the call so we don’t have to cut back on the good works.
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mrsdizzyd
Guest
That’s a lot of deacons for that size a parish!!!semper_catholicus:
9500 registered families, which is just a bit smaller than the church I grew up in.
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C
commenter
Guest
Deacon Christopher, thank you for your ministry!
Praytell, prayers offered for your formation!
In my diocese we have many priests from other countries who lack confidence in their grasp of English, so if a deacon is available, they let them preach, or assist at wakes and graveside service, as much as possible.
Praytell, prayers offered for your formation!
In my diocese we have many priests from other countries who lack confidence in their grasp of English, so if a deacon is available, they let them preach, or assist at wakes and graveside service, as much as possible.
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semper_catholicus
Guest
That’s still very shocking to me. Where I’m from, parishes that size are unheard of! Wow.
C
CilladeRoma
Guest
Why is it crazy?
Deacons provide a vital role in my community. They help run parishes that don’t have a priest/pastor, many of them handle all the marriage and baptism prep for their parishes and help out with funeral vigils and burials.
Without our deacons parish priests would be stretched thinner than they are already.
Deacons provide a vital role in my community. They help run parishes that don’t have a priest/pastor, many of them handle all the marriage and baptism prep for their parishes and help out with funeral vigils and burials.
Without our deacons parish priests would be stretched thinner than they are already.
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semper_catholicus
Guest
I’m saying that it’s crazy becuase I’m not used to seeing 13 deacons in a parish. I’m not beating up on deacons.
C
CilladeRoma
Guest
I guess I would call it “blessed” rather than crazy.
For me, the return of the permanent diaconate is one of the most important developments to come from Vatican II.
For me, the return of the permanent diaconate is one of the most important developments to come from Vatican II.
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
In the area where I work, the four Catholic churches within a couple miles drive of me have 9000, 10000, 11000, and 15000 registered parishioners respectively, plus there’s a busy Newman Center at the local college. Most of the growth in that area is suburban sprawl and you can tell the Archdiocese has tried not to build a lot of new churches - two of the parishes on that list go back to the late 1700s/ early 1800s.
Compare that to where I grew up, the parish has maybe like 1000-2000. .
Still even those 10,000-person parishes don’t have 13 deacons. They have 2 to 4 deacons apiece. They also send one or two young men to the seminary each year.
A
Augustinian
Guest
13 is an impressive number, particularly as it isn’t so easy to receive the formation to become a deacon. Years of study and a lifetime commitment, only a very small percentage of men could be expected to have the combination of ability, patience to make it through and commitment to actually be ordained as a deacon.
Among some of our Protestant friends, the title of “deacon” is bestowed on people a lot easier and quicker to men who are volunteered to do essential duties around their churches. I loaned a black tie to a neighbor last year who was being ordained as a deacon at a local baptist church after starting to attend there 3 months earlier.
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