Permanent Deacons - Opinions?

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praytell

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I am in my last year of formation for the Permanent Diaconate. Throughout this experience, I have run into a lot of people who seem to have a very negative view towards Deacons. Some of the “issues” people seem to have range from poor homiletic skills to not seeing the point of a Deacon.

What are some of the things you have seen from Deacons that have either impressed you or caused you to roll your eyes? I am genuinely curious.
 
praytell said:
What are some of the things you have seen from Deacons that have either impressed you or caused you to roll your eyes? I am genuinely curious.
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The worst thing I’ve ever seen was a Deacon using props during his homilies. One time he actually pulled out a wooden paddle (the one you use to spank people with) out from under the pulpit.

Please do not use props during your homilies, especially paddles.

As for good things, I love the Bible studies one Deacon I know does. He does an excellent job with them and brings his books for people to reference.
 
StudentMI said:
Why on earth did he bring out a paddle? What was his point?
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For his homilies, he frequently would use “Little Timmy/Sally”, who would take take some Catholic word or concept, mispronounce it, and tie the mispronunciation and the concept together. I can’t remember what it was that time, but I think it had something to do with penance?
 
That would also upset me. I always tease my wife that I am going to take a liturgical dance class. I never would but it always gets a laugh out of her.
 
Lol so penance is a paddling. Okay. Can someone post a gif of that old guy from the Simpsons?
 
StudentMI said:
Lol so penance is a paddling. Okay. Can someone post a gif of that old guy from the Simpsons?
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Like I said, I don’t know if that is what he said. I haven’t seen him in years. I just remember him pulling out the paddle from under the pulpit.

EDIT: I now remember what it was. It was related to penance, but it was specifically talking about discipline. Hence the paddle. “Little Timmy” was saying he wanted “discipline”, only he conflated discipline with disciplining.
 
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A Deacon runs RCIA in our parish so is the first point of contact with the Church for a lot of us. He’s one of the kindest men you could ever meet and has time for everyone.

He is very clear and orthodox on Church teaching but will also take the time to discuss any difficulties people have with it in a gentle way. He is very generous with his time and is always happy to talk over email or to meet up. All this means he is someone that people in the parish trust and will go to for help.

In a nutshell I think what impresses me is his clear commitment to the Church and his faith along with a real joy in sharing it and a sense of respect for the people he is sharing it with, no matter who they are.
 
praytell said:
Some of the “issues” people seem to have range from poor homiletic skills to not seeing the point of a Deacon.
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Poor homiletic skills can be fixed with training and practice (or just not letting that particular Deacon give the Homily in the really stubborn cases). Not seeing the point is, as far as I am concerned, a personal issue; if the Church sees the point (and if it didn’t, there wouldn’t be any) than I am not going to argue about it. Especially since I would love to be one myself, but I am past the current age cutoff for beginning formation in my Diocese.

But to answer the actual question, I have to say that I am by generally favorably impressed by the deacons I have seen in action, albeit to different levels at different times, and the main incident that made me roll my eyes was when a deacon gave a homily that was essentially a political speech. No names were named, but it was clear who and what he was talking about. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall of the Sacristy after that Mass…
 
Deacons are great. Obviously, some are great homilists. Some not so much, but the same can be said of priests.
 
I don’t have any tips this second but I just wanted to offer my appreciation for deacons and all that they do.
 
I have had only positive experiences with Deacons in multiple parishes I attend. At one parish, the Deacon was very friendly to my family and our families became friends on some level. Even went to his house once for an event. I think Deacon’s Homilies are great. They have a unique perspective that priests don’t have. For example, you might hear a homily about church/work/family life balance. Another Deacon gave a homily about the elderly he visits to distribute communion. These are fantastic! I think the best parishes (for me) have both Deacons and Priests. Both types of clerics bring a great perspective and give great homilies from those different perspectives. Sometimes I think the solid homilies from the Deacon motivate the priests to give even better homilies. Good luck and God Bless on your journey. I hope it works out.

As for negative comments. The office appears to be new to many (it was reintroduced in the last 50-60 years). It is hardly new…1 Timothy 3…A Deacon is described and a Bishop is described…a Priest is not described. Still some will not understand. Some feel that you are taking a role a way from priests, which I think is nonsense. So I can’t imagine you’d be doing this just for people’s approval. I’d think that’s the last reason one would become a Deacon.

@Diaconia might have some good thoughts.
 
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[If I am not mistaken, I am in the same diocese as @(name removed by moderator) , so I will defer to him should he feel I am misrepresenting any facts]

For a long time, we didn’t “do” permanent deacons. There were 25 years and 3 bishops between the first and second classes of men prepared for permanent diaconal ministry here. (During that “dark” time, I once asked my pastor what my first steps should be if I feel called to the permanent diaconate – His answer? “Move.”) I used to get jealous when Catholics on CAF and elsewhere on the interwebs would write of the ministries the deacons (plural!) in their parishes attended! But I also understand that the ordinary(s) may have been looking for a standard curriculum for formation, rather than the ad hoc programs some areas had rushed?

Anyway: Now we have had a handful of cohorts prepared in the last 20 years, I get the feeling in part at least trying to play catch up before all of our priests retire. (And I pray the vocations may continue)

I no longer feel an interior such call, but during one class’s application period literally a dozen and more people told me I should apply (an exterior call), which I did. I was not accepted (which was almost exactly right), but I did find it a valuable process, including shining a light on the services I perform as a layman and continue to do without ordination. But I also recognized that I do not know what deacons do! My parish has finally had a deacon assigned for a couple of years and I still don’t know what value he adds? I know what deacons can do, but I never felt my priests were suffering from burdens of homilies, weddings, or baptisms? (In my aging parish, I thought graveside service might be a boon however) Maybe I am mistaken?
 
We have discussed preaching before (priests & deacons), perhaps those interested can search for one of those threads.

In short - some deacons are excellent preachers, and some are very poor. The same is true for priests, unfortunately. As such, the solution of “not letting the deacon preach” is not a good one. What do you do for the priest who is a poor preacher? Not let him preach, either? Of course not.
The solution is simply to help them work on their craft. Even a very poor preacher can become better; and excellent ones can become exceptional. There are Toastmaster groups open only to preachers, for example. I have tutored other clerics to help them hone their preaching.
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Forensics, in my opinion, is among the most valuable skills one can learn in secondary and college level studies. Regardless of what career or vocation you settle on, the ability to speak, convince, articulate, and explain will be of great benefit to you.

Ministerial work requires lots of disparate skills and abilities, and it is rare to find someone who has all of them. I know great preachers who have terrible bedside manners. I know wonderful confessors that are poor teachers. I have priest friends who can’t carry a tune to save their lives. No one has everything that Jesus had, no one. Preaching is simply a more visible gift, and is thus the first thing criticized (or praised) in a priest or a deacon.

As far as people not seeing the point of the diaconate; that is on us, the clergy to fix. The overall suppression of the diaconate in the West has only been corrected since Vatican II. Fifty-some odd years is nothing in the Church’s reckoning of time.

Diaconal functions were assumed in the West by priests over time; so people need to be catechized to help with that.

Priests who work collaboratively with their deacons have great benefits to their ministry. Deacons who are truly helpful are greatly sought after. Those who have little to offer are not.

As far as relates to Eastern Christianity, deacons have always existed, and are highly respected and in great demand. The Divine Liturgy is far better with both a priest and deacon concelebrating. Every priest wishes he had a deacon, but they are hard to come by. Most of the time the bishop ordains them to the priesthood in short order, as priests are also hard to come by.

So, many bishops see the value of the diaconate in Christ is different ways. To a Western bishop many things can be delegated to them, to help with priestly shortages (baptisms, weddings, funerals, preaching, blessings, etc.).

Eastern bishops want deacons because they make the liturgy better, and add a completeness to parish life, even though they don’t receive delegated power to do any of the things that Western deacons do.

In short; Western deacons help with priestly shortage and in the East they enhance the quality of public worship. In an imperfect example we might say: Quantity (West) vs. Quality (East).

Deacons are here to help (the word means “servant”). Diaconia is about serving others in love,
Deacon Christopher
 
Perhaps some people just don’t understand what the permanent diaconate is.
Help educate them.
 
Thank you for pointing out the value of forensics. I would say this is the biggest area I need to work on. We have had a couple of five week Homiletics courses but they were really too short and did not give enough time to really develop.

In High School I participated in a Forensics League where we would do all sorts of different presentation genres. That was long ago so I appreciate the tip and will check out local Toast Masters.
 
Thanks for sharing your story. It sounds like it was an interesting journey.
The Parish where I am currently and hope to be assigned to has three priests. However the do multiple daily Masses, multiple Confession times, and multiple Sunday Masses. They are pretty busy.
Our Deacon is also busy with funerals, baptisms, and all the preps that go with that. He is also involved with many ministries so he is good example for me to follow.
I’m am always saddened when I hear about a priest or diocese that does not support their Deacons so I am gladdened to hear that there has been a turnaround in yours.
Thank you for your many contributions to the life of your parish and our Church.
 
I came from an area where priests are moved every six years. I was asked by someone that was a deacon why I thought deacons were useful. One of my reasons was that priests move on, but the deacons remain. They know what has gone on in a parish, it’s history. They are like family. They can help incoming priests adjust with their (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
That is an excellent point. We had a situation like this arise recently. As a Franciscan Parish, it is possible for our priests to be moved every four years. All three of our priests including the Pastor were moved in one fell swoop. It created a lot of chaos but our Deacon was able to help calm the waves so to speak. Thanks for that.
 
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