How Many Deacons does it take

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dizzy_dave

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I have a question about deacons. I am a member of a parish with 900 families (I’m not sure if that’s considered big or not) we have one priest and NO DEACON, we do however have a Pastoral Minister. Other parishes in town or close by have one or even two Deacons. The big church in our town has Two priests and two Deacons. I was curious how many deacons are allowed to be permanent Deacons at a parish at any given time? :hmmm:
 
Well, you might find a Deacon here who can answer better, but my father is a Deacon, so I will take my best shot.

When I was growing up my father was assigned to some parishes with one, and some with two. I have never seen more than two at one parish, but I don’t think that their is really a limit. The only limitation would be that of what the Diocese is able to give to a parish, how many there are in the diocese, and where they are needed most.

Has your priest tried to get a Deacon for your parish? If he hasn’t then he will not likely get one. Some priests don’t want a Deacon, this is not as common as it once was, but there are still some esqecially if they are extremely conservative. Where I live it is the usual practice that the parish priest must make the request. Where a Deacon is willing to go is also an issue in some sense, although I would think that they would have someone if there is not a shortage in the area.

Hope this helps.🙂
 
In some dioceses, deacons serve in the parish in which they choose to live. In others, the bishop assigns deacons to the place where there is the greatest need. The deacon then “commutes” when needed.

Whether your parish is “big enough” to get a deacon varies from diocese to diocese, depending on many deacons are available in each one.
 
There is not ONE permanent deacon in my entire diocese. The United States is really the only country, to my knowledge, where the permanent diaconate has really caught on big. There are not as many in Canada. (Some dioceses have them…but mine, as I said, the Diocese of Nelson, does not).

Father tells me that the diocese wants to focus on encouraging priestly vocations…deacons can help, but we really need more people who can hear confessions and say Mass. After the priest shortage is taken care of, we can focus on training deacons.
 
This is an issue I’m very interested in. I have been trying to understand what’s the true identity and role of a Deacon. I mean, I know what’s a Deacon in theory, but I often see Deacon’s tasks are replaced by Priests, accolytes or altar boys. In Spain, where I live, there are very few permanent Deacons. In fact, in my Diocese, the Diocese of Jaen, there’s none.

I have thought a lot about this and I think. I think Deacons are important, but for some reason they are discarded in many places, maybe because their identity is not very well understood.

Could we talk about this subject? I can open a new thread if needed. I’m really interested.

Peace 🙂
 
As a deacon in Chicago,IL, the world’s largest numbers of deacons reside here with over 600. At some of the suburban parishes there are more than 6 or 7 ordained deacons. When we are ordained, we take a vow of obedience to our bishop, not our parish. However, most of us serve within our parish for a period of no less than 10 years, and we may be transferred elsewhere. If you are interested in learning more about the diaconate, please check out our website
chicagodeacons.org.

As a deacon, my wife and I share some of our ministries together. We do marriage prep, baptismal prep and I am the chaplain of the teen ministry and she is the youth minister. As a deacon, we baptize, marry, bury and preach the gospel. Those are the most visible parts of our ministry, but deacons greatest work is with the poor and disenfranchised. Many of us work in prison ministry, hospital ministry, charitable ministries overall. It is a vocation, not a choice. God calls us to the diaconate, we just need to be open to his call.
 
May I suggest that Dizzy Dave should give serious consideration to becoming a Pemanent Deacon himself? If this is not feasible beacause of young children, then put it on the back burner for now. There are many ministeries that can be performed by deacons, and the size of a parish should nort be the only consideration. Having just returned from South Africa, I can testify that the deacons there are doing tremendous work. There are 62 in Cape Town alone, and they are fulfilling a vital role in assisting their priest. They preach. perform marriage ceremonies, baptise, conduct funerals, catechise and counsel. It is obvious that the priest shortage will not be solved in the short term, and deacons can perform a valuable sercice to the Church.
 
hi stbruno,

are you at deacon at St Bruno parish on the SW side of CHicago near Midway airport?
If so, then i grew up not too far from your parish.

here is a question i wondered about.

What happens if a deacon and his family are planning to move outside the diocese (like from say Chicago to Joliet diocese or rockford diocese).
Does the Church have any restrictions on whether or not the Deacon can move his family (for say, job reasons).
Just wondering.
 
I’m in formation to the Deaconate in Detroit.

A deacon goes where his bishop tells him to go. That said, generally in Detroit, if a man is ordained, his pastor gets ‘first dibs’ on him. Thus if a deacon’s home pastor requests him, the Cardinal will usually assign the deacon there.

Barring that, Cardinal Maida will usually assign a deacon to a parish within communting distance whose pastor has requested the assistance of a deacon.

Assisgnments are generally re-evaulated every 3 years.

Parishes requesting the assistance of a deacon are also listed in the deacon’s newsletter.

There is also a 3rd case. Cardinal Maida has stated that parishes without a full time priest will be assigned a full time deacon to adminsiter the parish. The laity or non-ordainded religious will not adminisiter a parish in the ArchDiocese of Detroit.

So some deacons will be asked to run a parish. These are special cases, as the position would be a salaried job replacing the deacons other employment. In the cases where this has happend, the Cardinal has offered the position to deacons who have recently retired from their secular employment and have managerial experience.
 
Yes, I am from the parish near Midway. To find out if you can relocate, contact the diaconate office and speak to Fr.Mike Ahlstrom the Vicar. He can direct you. Many of our deacons because of their job situation or perhaps have retired to warmer climates have been able to minister in the diocese they now reside. But you must have faculties to do your duties. You don’t just show up and say to the priest, by the way I am a deacon. Good luck to you!
 
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maklavan:
May I suggest that Dizzy Dave should give serious consideration to becoming a Pemanent Deacon himself?
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I believe ordination is a calling, not a decision.
 
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dizzy_dave:
…we do however have a Pastoral Minister…
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Just curious, Dave, as to the role your Pastoral Minister plays. I assume from the title that this is an individual who has not taken Holy Orders. What function(s) does/do he or she serve? Is this a role that was assigned by the bishop? Appointed by the pastor? Full-time salaried position within your parish? Volunteer lay parishioner? Does he/she bring any specific training or qualifications to the role?

Looking to educate myself a bit…

a pilgrim
 
a pilgrim:
Just curious, Dave, as to the role your Pastoral Minister plays. I assume from the title that this is an individual who has not taken Holy Orders. What function(s) does/do he or she serve? Is this a role that was assigned by the bishop? Appointed by the pastor? Full-time salaried position within your parish? Volunteer lay parishioner? Does he/she bring any specific training or qualifications to the role?

Looking to educate myself a bit…

a pilgrim
Click to expand...
Our Pastoral Minister heads the RCIA and goes on sick calls, helps handle the anullments, is a Eucharistic Minister is on Parish council, bereavement ministry, Evangelization committee,
It is a woman and she is a layperson not a nun, she is also paid salary.
 
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