Minimum age for Deacon / Subdeacon?

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Jvince320

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Hello everyone,

First of all, i come from a very religious family. I used to attend service since I was very young but just because my parents would bring me. (It’s normal as an infant). However now, I am 17 and bought my own car so I can go by my own. I am blessed with a wonderful family, great health and awesome capacity in school and at work. This being said, a few months ago, i really started to go to church often. I feel the need to go. Now, I go almost every day. The music i listen to is Hymnal, my thoughts are always related to god, it feels like im immersed.

Now, I really look up to my church’s deacon and I have this feeling that this is what i want/need to do. Its weird to explain but I feel like its my place, this is what I should do… What are the steps to take, is 17 to young? Does it really change anything…

I need your wisdom!

Thanks and god bless
 
I would say yes in nearly each Diocese.
Men in this Archdiocese are not even permitted to apply if they have young families as it takes so much time away from family life, and their families come first.
It does vary by Diocese though.
@(name removed by moderator)

Deacon Jeff may weigh in, and he will give you the correct answer.
 
Generally late 20’s for those transitioning to the Priesthood, and early 30’s for those called directly to the Diaconate. That said, they are both full Deacons.
 
I would imagine 17 is too young. You should discuss this with your priest or a good spiritual director.

In our diocese deacons are allowed into formation at anytime. However there is much discernment that goes into this. It’s not as if you fill out an application and start classes. Many couples wait until children are out of the house and some enter formation with children, even young ones, in the home.

The only way a man/couple should be turned away is if, through discernment, it is found not to be a true calling.
 
Jvince320 said:
are the steps to take, is 17 to young?
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I would encourage you to seek out the vocations director for your diocese and start talking to him. The vocations director can help you get a spiritual director to discern your calling to religious life-- such as priesthood or permanent diaconate. You can also approach your own pastor to discuss this.

Someone who wants to be a deacon goes through several years of formation (usually at least 3). There are minimum age requirements set by canon law. The conference of bishops in your area may use these guidelines or set higher ones. You would have to check with your diocese about your local area. Typically, a deacon would complete college or whatever job training they are pursuing and then receive formation.

Can. 1031 §1. The presbyterate is not to be conferred except on those who have completed the twenty-fifth year of age and possess sufficient maturity; an interval of at least six months is to be observed between the diaconate and the presbyterate. Those destined to the presbyterate are to be admitted to the order of deacon only after completing the twenty-third year of age.

§2. A candidate for the permanent diaconate who is not married is not to be admitted to the diaconate until after completing at least the twenty-fifth year of age; one who is married, not until after completing at least the thirty-fifth year of age and with the consent of his wife.

§3. The conference of bishops is free to establish norms which require an older age for the presbyterate and the permanent diaconate.

§4. A dispensation of more than a year from the age required according to the norm of §§1 and 2 is reserved to the Apostolic See.
 
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Wow thank you all for your answers! Its unfortunate that I am too young… Is there an alternative? What about sub-deacon? Do the same rules apply?
 
“Jvince320 said:
Wow thank you all for your answers! Its unfortunate that I am too young…
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It’s not unfortunate at all. This is a good time to talk to a vocations director about a possible calling to the priesthood, diaconate, or religious life.
Jvince320 said:
Is there an alternative? What about sub-deacon? Do the same rules apply?
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The sub-deaconate was suppressed after Vatican II. There is no role of sub-deacon in the ordinary form mass. The sub-deacon role in the extraordinary form of mass is filled by lay people.

You can talk to your pastor about roles in the liturgy that you may be qualified to do. Most parishes don’t have instituted lectors or acolytes. Readers, servers, and extraordinary ministers of holy communion are all roles that you could participate in at mass. Talk to your pastor.
 
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While is it true that the subdiaconate was suppressed in 1972, it is not correct to say that these roles are fulfilled in the EF by laymen. The FSSP, ICRSS, and other orders that use the EF were given the privilege of having subdeacons by Ecclesia Dei. This is a brief step before being ordained to the diaconate, in these orders.

Most subdeacons at Solemn EF Masses are, in fact, priests or deacons themselves.
 
Folks,

It might be helpful to note that @Jvince320 is a Maronite Catholic, not a Latin Rite Catholic. 😉

So…
  • There is a sub-diaconate in the Maronite rite
  • The CCEO (#759) lists 23 years old as the minimum age for a deacon, allowing for a different age to be set by the particular rite.
 
Thanks for pointing that out, @Gorgias.

I believe for the Maronite Church, the minimum age for Sub Deacon is 21. From the little I know of the Eastern Canons, below that age would require a Bishop to dispense the age requirement. I seem to remember that anything over 6 months or maybe a year would require a dispensation from the Holy See. It is possible that a man might be dispensed to the age of 20, but I think that would be about as low as one might get. That would align with the canonical age of 20 for subdeacon as set in Canon XV of the Quinisext Council (circa 692). Doesn’t mean that one couldn’t be ordained younger, but simply that it is highly unlikely that a dispensation would be granted.
 
OldCAFMember said:
While is it true that the subdiaconate was suppressed in 1972, it is not correct to say that these roles are fulfilled in the EF by laymen. The FSSP, ICRSS, and other orders that use the EF were given the privilege of having subdeacons by Ecclesia Dei. This is a brief step before being ordained to the diaconate, in these orders.

Most subdeacons at Solemn EF Masses are, in fact, priests or deacons themselves.
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In addition, the Eastern Rites retain the Siubdiaconate. We have a Chaldean SubDeacon at our parish. He vests as a SubDeacon, and functions as an Acolyte at Mass.
 
What this guy said. In my diocese we had a “permanent” deacon ordained at age 33. He needed a dispensation from John Paul II for this though or so I am told. I think the Church should have waited until this man was 40+ because he has done quite a bit of spiritual damage over the years and under the new Formation guidelines he would have never made it through formation before being “cut” from the program. My Class required 2 years of Ministry formation followed by 5 years of diaconal formation that required completion of the Graduate Program in theology at the diocesan University. We also had extensive homilitics training in addition to classwork over those 5 years.
 
I think not permitting application with young families is a very bad idea. We had a 4, 6, 8, and 10 year old when we began formation. My children attended every deacon weekend I had classmates with newborns and young children. Our families all stayed together in the same house each weekend for 5 + years. it was a wonderful experience and our Children literally grew up with special weekends at the Chancery and Diocesan University. They learned so much together. The bishop was almost like their grandpa it was just a truly awesome experience. In contrast the older classmates in my class with grown children. Their children had little to no connection with their diaconate and quite unfamiliar with the whole life of a deacon. Now with that in mind. I am not sure I would have made it through formation when my kids became high school age. I was ordained as my oldest was a sophomore. I cannot believe how busy life got when we had multiples in HS. One thing that is really great about our ministry is that we are “younger” than the typical deacon family and my contact with the youth is almost daily as a parent/deacon.
 
Well, you can take it up with the Archbishop I guess, but we have OODLES of men Deaconate Formation, no shortage.
 
If you have oodles of men in formation then I wonder what the vetting process is. In my opinion a deacon candidate should be required to complete a minimum of masters degree in theology with hundreds of hours exposure in charity work inluding serious time in prison ministry. The Archdiocese near me has a program that is an injustice to the people of God. It is nothing more than a glorified altar boy program for “men who are deemed worthy” by the parish priest who doesn’t understand what the diaconate is.

I am sorry about the spelling I cannot fix it for some reason.
 
17 is not too young to be thinking about these things. I recommend prayer and flexibility as to what God is calling you to.
 
You could ask to be trained as an MC. They are in charge of the altar servers and must be at least 15 in our parish. They keep the Mass running smoothly, make sure the altar servers are doing what they are supposed to do, handle any emergencies during the liturgy (spilled Precious Blood, dropped Host, candle falls over/goes out, altar server faints or trips, Father needs water, incense needs refilled, etc. It’s a very important job and would give you a different way to serve that would allow you to see the Mass up close and get to know the priests and deacons.
 
deacon3b said:
If you have oodles of men in formation then I wonder what the vetting process is. In my opinion a deacon candidate should be required to complete a minimum of masters degree in theology with hundreds of hours exposure in charity work inluding serious time in prison ministry. The Archdiocese near me has a program that is an injustice to the people of God. It is nothing more than a glorified altar boy program for “men who are deemed worthy” by the parish priest who doesn’t understand what the diaconate is.

I am sorry about the spelling I cannot fix it for some reason.
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I must disagree on the later part there.

There is nothing about spending time on charity work or prison ministry that would make a deacon candidate either acceptable or unacceptable.

Certainly, concern for the poor should be a criteria for anyone seeking Holy Orders. Likewise, a concern for the imprisoned.

There is nothing wrong with liturgical deacons, either. If there is a need for them, and there are men who have that vocation, then deacons whose function is mostly liturgical is perfectly acceptable.
 
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