On Becoming a Deacon in the RCC

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Good point about the identity of the deacon. That is still unfolding. The diaconate was only restored after Vat. 11. This is a short time in church history. Things happen slowly in the church. My formation took 7 years. Our class had to sign that we would not re-marry if our wife proceded us in death. Also, as I am an ex-police officer, I was chosen to fingerprint my class. Someone was actually found to have been a child molester in the application process.

The original role of the deacon was to be where the church is not. To go to the prisons, start soup kitchens, visit the sick, visit the aged. Also minister to the homeless. On occasion, the deacon could preach and baptize and do grave side services. These were to be secondary. However, as the priest shortage continues, deacons find that they are doing more ministry around the parish and not being able to go out and be where the church is not. One of my classmates, who has been retired, was putting in 16 hours days at the parrish His doctor told him to cut back or his heart condition would take his life within 6 months. In a little town nearby, they have no priest. Two deacons are trying to run things with a retired priest coming in on the weeekend. They also work full time jobs. Hope this adds a little to the discussion.

May God Bless You,
Deacon Tony SFO
 
Br. Rich SFO:
A few things to remember. Once Ordained (Deacon or Priest) you cannot enter into Marriage.** Most diocese will not Ordain a Married man a Deacon until his children are grown and are on their own**.
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This is certainoy not true.

You need to replace “Most” with “some.”
 
From what I have read, the only time permanent deacons are allowed to re-marry is when they have small children who need a mother.

The decision is made at a very high level within the Vatican on a case-by-case basis.
 
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Crusader:
From what I have read, the only time permanent deacons are allowed to re-marry is when they have small children who need a mother.

The decision is made at a very high level within the Vatican on a case-by-case basis.
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And ageing parant inlaws and the wife was a last child. I have read this has never been done yet though.
 
We had men with school aged children in our class. However, this was the exception. Most had no minor children. We never even discussed exceptions to the no re-marriage rule. We got the impression that it would not happen our diocese.

Deacon Tony
 
Deacon Tony560:
We had men with school aged children in our class. However, this was the exception. Most had no minor children.
Deacon Tony
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I’m in Deaconate Formation in Detroit. Of my class, I am 1 of 2 that has minor children. Mine ( at 6, 4, 1 1/2 and one due in Jan. are by far the youngest). The other guy has 2 teenage daughters.

Most of the guys have grandkids the same age as my kids 😃
 
Brendan,

Just to quibble, I suspect you are in the diaconate formation program. The spelling differs for this form (diaconate) as opposed to deacon.

Deacon Ed
 
The number of deacons continues to rise in the USA, while the number of priests and religious declines. We should all pray for more priests and religious, but support the deacons. Some who have never had a deacon in their parish, might have one in the future. Ireland, who has not had permanent deacons, is looking at it now as their priest total declines. Our diocese gets inquiries from others about starting a formation program.

May God bless you,
Deacon Tony
 
In my diocese we have had several deacons with young children and some had no children prior to formation yet had their children while in formation.

God Bless
 
Can a transitional deacon be “converted” to permanent deacon?
 
The vocation of a Deacon, as it’s pointed out above, is distinct from the Priestly vocation. A Priest’s primary function is sacramental, while a Deacon’s is primarily a call to service. If you feel you’re being called to the Priesthood, then explore that calling and don’t try to find and “end run” around the discipline of celibacy. Trust the Lord. Pray for continued discernment. If He wants you as one of His Priests, He’ll keep tugging on you that way. If he wants you to be a husband, father and/or Deacon, well, you’ll get that call. 👍
 
dumspirospero said:
I have felt a strong calling here lately to become a Priest, however I also want to have a family…so being a Deacon may suit me just right. What type of formation do you have to undergo to become a Deacon? How difficult is it? How do I start the process? Are there any disqualifying factors? Thanks to all who help me out. God Bless
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dumspirospero,

I recently met a newly ordained deacon in the Baton Rouge diocese. He actually baptised our son when we made an emergency trip down south for a family matter. From my converstaion with him the formation in BR is quite good. 2-3 years of what’s called Religious Studies Institute and another 2-3 of actual deacon formation. He is assigned to the LSU campus ministry. Feel free to send me a private message if you want his name and other contact information.

I recently enrolled in an inquiry/aspirancy class for potential deacons on the Diocese of Covington. There are 15-20 men, most of whom have grown children but there are 3-4 of us that are in our mid-to-late 30’s with young children. This is just an inquiry class, I have no idea whether any of us will be accepted into formation at this point. This is just confirmation that younger men are discerning this call.
 
I was one of those that was on the verge of discussing a vocation to the priesthood when I met my wife and I knew almost right away that married life was my vocation. However, I have no started to feel the call to become a deacon. I have had discussions with my wife about this and we both feel that at this time it wouldn’t be the right time due to our young kids (5, 3, and one due in November). However, I have started to deepen my faith and volunteer more around the Parish until the time is right for me to make the bigger commitment. I would caution anyone with young kids to make sure their family (first vocation) is taken care of first.

On a side note that I thought was interesting, I started to feel the call right before my 30 birthday. When I started to due research on the deaconite, I find that my diocese requires that you be 30 before you start the formal process. The timing was very interesting to me.
 
dumspirospero said:
I have felt a strong calling here lately to become a Priest, however I also want to have a family…
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I urge you to still consider the priesthood. A priest should feel a desire for a family and to marry–it is the natural desire for all normal men (the reason we had the scandals is because those men did not have that normal desire). A priest, however, sacrifices that desire and offers it to the Lord to become the father of his flock. The fact that you have such a strong pull towards the priesthood and a normal desire for family could be the sign of a call. All of the attributes that make a good father are the same that make a good priest. Pray about it 🙂
 
👍 We had a neighbor years ago who was a deacon.It was just him and his wife,their children were grown and out of the house.I think you should check with your diocese for information on the dicanonet program and classes.
My Great Uncle Bill once studied for the priesthood,but left to get married.Actually,Bill entering the seminary was the idea of my great grandmother.She wanted a priest in the family,and her two other sons were married…The fathers were reluctent to take him,but great grandma had an ironwill,so i understand she put pressure on them to take Bill in.He was caught sneaking back in after visiting his girlfriend,so they let him go,which made Uncle Bill very happy.If you did enter the seminary,you may find out that it’s not for you.Or you could the Secular Franciscans or other orders like that and still have a family.I believe St.Elizabeth of Hungary was one.
The church by the way in its earliest days did have married priests
and even bishops.I believe St.Paul mentions this in his letters.
Also the church had woman deaconesses,who assisted with the baptism of women and children and helped the poor and do works of mercy.But a whole lot is not known too much about their office and place in the church.This is often brought up by those who want to ordain women.Even in the Jewish religion Rabbis are men .There could be a woman rabbi some place, but believe me not among ultra orthodox jews.

Don’t know if the Roman Catholic Church will ever have married priests again. I believe in the eastern rites of the Catholic Church and in the Orthodox Church they do have married priests.
 
The pope may dispense a widowed deacon from the obligation of celibacy. Previously two out of the three following provisos ahd to be met: viz. 1. The deacon had young children who needed to be raised. 2. The bishop said that he truly needed the particular services of the deacon. 3. There were aged parents or other dependents who needed care. Now only one of the above needs to be demonstrated. The only deacon I know who remarried after being widowed married a widow and his petition to the pope stated that he had the responsibility of aged parents and the bishop needed his services. I believe the process took several months.

The bigger issue are men who have gone through the annulment process, have remarried, and then are accepted as candidates and ordained. This is handled differently by different dioceses.
 
G_S said:
The pope may dispense a widowed deacon from the obligation of celibacy. Previously two out of the three following provisos ahd to be met: viz. 1. The deacon had young children who needed to be raised. 2. The bishop said that he truly needed the particular services of the deacon. 3. There were aged parents or other dependents who needed care. Now only one of the above needs to be demonstrated. . . .
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It was in a circular letter of 1997, said to be at the request of Pope John Paul II, that a single reason would be sufficient.

And now they’ve changed again since the papacy of Pope Benedict according to something I recently read regarding the practice of the Congregation in a post on the canon law discussion group.

Now we appear to be back to two or three depending on how you list things: 1) a cause as above, 2) usefulness of the deacon for ministry as 3) attested by the diocesan bishop. The granting of dispensations is expected to become rarer.

It should be noted that a bishop must determine someone is useful for the service of the diocese before ordaining him, so this always struck me as an odd requirement. But there it is.

I do agree that the weightier issue is that of previously married and divorced candidates who remarry after a decree of nullity is given. The cause of marital nullity may well present the kind of dynamics that would render a man not suited to ordained ministry, and there is the potential of public wonderment (or as the old manuals said, “admiratio”) to consider.
 
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