Permanent Deacons - Opinions?

[jack63]

It was also emphasized to us that we were not intended to only be involved in liturgy. I think this was an effort to emphasize that a Deacon’s ministry extends beyond the Mass.

I’m curious what activities outside of mass you are most looking forward to doing when you’re ordained? In other words what ministerial activities outside of mass motivated you to become a Deacon? Why do you think it will help you to be ordained a Deacon to do these activities outside of mass?

Thanks for your thread and many good responses…BTW.

 

[AlmaRedemptorisMater]

Thanks Father. Obviously it happened and we move on. I hope next year, our deacon will be able to chant.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

In recent years, the priests have improved a lot. I don’t know why but they have. I rarely hear a bad homily from a priest. Maybe 2x a year. In the 80s it was more like every other week.

On the other hand, there are several deacons in this area who regularly preach pretty bad homilies. One of them gets too political and another one talks way too long and wanders from topic to topic.

In my experience, I’ve found that while priests and deacons are both fully capable of giving bad homilies, they’re usually bad in different ways. If a priest gives a bad homily, it’s usually because it’s unfocused and it’s not clear what he’s actually getting at. We have a priest here who is a very nice guy, but his homilies are just pure stream of consciousness. Or he makes no effort to engage and just reads in a monotone.

When a deacon gives a bad homily, it’s usually because they tried to get too cute or clever. It becomes like bad stand-up.

 

[commenter]

In terms of “how deacons should be utilized, or how to exercise their ministry?”…

• I rarely hear anything about deacons in religious orders. I am curious, as to why apparently few brothers become deacons, or few unmarried deacons join religious orders that use them.
• The needs of the local diocese vary from city to city. Assignment of deacons and priests takes local need into account to some extent. But my Rust Belt Diocese has a lot of now- tiny parishes with mostly seniors. They pulled (shrinking) priests and deacons out of Evangelistic, educational, and social type ministries to staff the parishes at all costs.
• Putting more deacons where young adults currently are is crucial.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I rarely hear anything about deacons in religious orders. I am curious, as to why apparently few brothers become deacons, or few unmarried deacons join religious orders that use them.

I know of a few, but I think the reasons for why there are/aren’t any are about as numerous as religious orders themselves. Another thing could be, as stated up-thread, deacons are intended to be assisting the bishop; in most religious order structures, there’s a different role that assists the abbot, for example.

Putting more deacons where young adults currently are is crucial.

Absolutely, yes!

 

[Baho]

I really want to be a deacon but as a 28 year old convert I feel like they’ll just be like nah wait til you’re retired. But it seems weird to me that there are bishops and priests engaging actively in apologetics, and there are laypeople engaging in apologetics, but deacons have almost no presence in that arena online. I’d really like to be that guy.

 

[praytell]

I think you would be pleasantly surprised. The only concern that may come up would be with regards to your marital and family status. In my diocese it is expected that married men be married for five years prior to ordination. It is also expected that your family state (how many kids and how old) is stable an supportive of your ministries and you to theirs.

I also believe that you would need to be 35 at the time of ordination. Be patient, be prayerful, and continue to discern. The Church could use many more young men on fire for their faith.

 

[praytell]

Those are good questions. Thank you for asking. I am looking forward to participating in Baptisms. To be there at the beginning of someone’s Christian life would be a tremendous blessing.
Religious Ed is another area I am looking forward to. It is important for clerics and religious to be involved with younger people. When kids/teens meet and interact with those in vocations and consecrated life, it helps make vocations that much more real.
I also look forward to visiting the homebound and the sick/hospitalized. To be with people in their pain and pray with them is a huge blessing. These along with soup kitchens and homeless ministries would be where I feel drawn.
Except for Baptism, the other ministries are not necessarily exclusive to a Deacon. There are far more holy and wonderful lay people that do these too. As a Deacon, serving along side these faithful lay leaders, it lends a support and an acknowledgement that the institutional Church is supporting these efforts. These are also opportunities to preach the Gospel with authority and help heal wounded souls.
I pray that I can be a faithful and humble minister and that I can see Jesus in all whom I encounter. If it be His will, maybe they will see Him in me.

 

[Baho]

Thank you friend, I appreciate the response. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I’m only 28 but I’ve been married for over 9 years now and I’ve got an incredibly secure job working toward a pension, so I don’t expect to move. My wife stays home and homeschools our children (w/ a Catholic program) and is totally into it. I’m currently studying at Holy Apostles College & Seminary. I’ve thought about asking my priest about it so that perhaps I can begin working toward it early and get the stars to align for ordination at the earliest point available. I’m concerned about seeming ignorant or overzealous, though, so I haven’t yet.

 

[praytell]

No problem brother. I would definitely start talking to your priest. He may also be able to help you find a spiritual director if you don’t already have one. This will be something important for you while you are discerning this vocation. We were highly encouraged to have spiritual direction along with a mentor deacon. I don’t know if that is standard across the US though.

My advice would be to pray and follow where He calls you. If this is where you are hearing He wants you to go, follow. Whether you do or do not have a calling to the diaconate, it will be a glorious adventure in growing deeper in HIm. Discernment is a process. Don’t be discouraged.

 

[Xarto]

I love the idea of Deacons but have they been undermined by Readers, Ministers of the Eucharist etc. Apart from the homily nearly everything else is done by lay people or am I missing something?

 

[praytell]

I have seen cases where this has happened but it is not normal. The Deacon is supposed to read the Gospel when he is present and do a homily when scheduled. He is also the minister of the cup and dismisses the congregation to conclude Mass. There are rare cases when parishes have drifted away from this to the point of having a lay person proclaim the Gospel during Mass. This is only allowable in the absence of a bishop, priest, or deacon. Of course, if a priest is not present, it cannot be called a Mass.

 

[Baho]

A few years ago I would have been considered centrist but today I find that my opinions are viewed as staunchly conservaitve. I firmly believe that the disagreements of opinion we have within the church stem from Western societies embracing symbolic logic/shrugging off traditional logic, and thus the erosion of epistemological and metaphyisical realism in our thinking (with preference for idealism). As a deacon, would I be able to engage in philisophical discussions and public policy debate? Or would I be more likely to be silenced/reprimanded if my immediate leadership is not supportive of my viewpoints than if I was a layman?

 

[bob4]

I am in my last year of formation for the Permanent Diaconate.

That’s awesome! I pray daily for all who are preparing for the Permanent Diaconate and their wives. At time in the Church I feel that Deacons are absolutely necessary. God bless you all.

 

[tuffsmurf]

The Roman Catholic church is not the only one to mandate priestly celibacy. To my knowledge, at least the Ethiopian Catholic church does as well.

 

[Wendy1989]

There are currently 3 permanent deacons at my parish. Of the 3, only one can chant and the other 2 really shouldn’t but one gives it a good try. The one deacon that can chant, doesn’t. I find it rather irritating that we have a lay cantor chant the Exsultet when there is a deacon that can do it properly and give the blessing! There are other issues with Easter Vigil but that’s another thread.

I would hope that more diocese would assist in teaching chant to the permanent deacons. Especially if you have a priest that like to chant the entire Mass. You never know where Bishop is going to assign you!

 

[jack63]

As a deacon, would I be able to engage in philisophical discussions and public policy debate? Or would I be more likely to be silenced/reprimanded if my immediate leadership is not supportive of my viewpoints than if I was a layman?

This is a really great question! I’m rather outspoken myself…it gets me in so much trouble in real life… . How much trouble would you get in as a Deacon if your engage in debate about society and whatnot?

 

[27lw]

There’s another reason to dislike deacons - - if one doesn’t like the giving out of the cup (and attendant accidental spilling, etc).
I’m afraid I have been formed by a very “old-school” priest who did not use the chalice, and was very pre-conciliar in style.
I suspect I am not the only one.

 

[Anesti33]

A few years ago I would have been considered centrist but today I find that my opinions are viewed as staunchly conservaitve. I firmly believe that the disagreements of opinion we have within the church stem from Western societies embracing symbolic logic/shrugging off traditional logic, and thus the erosion of epistemological and metaphyisical realism in our thinking (with preference for idealism). As a deacon, would I be able to engage in philisophical discussions and public policy debate? Or would I be more likely to be silenced/reprimanded if my immediate leadership is not supportive of my viewpoints than if I was a layman?

While the culture warrior deacon does exist in the blogosphere, most bishops are looking for ministers who will evangelize the people of the parish, not carry out disputations with interlocutors on Facebook.

 

[Baho]

Why can’t someone evangelize within their parish community and articulate why conservative values are those most compatible with the doctrine at the same time? Why does the politically concerned deacon have to be some Facebook swilling boomer caricature?