Profession that might not be approved for a Permanent Deacon

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I am a full time Wedding Photographer and Videographer, do you think my line of work would exclude me from being a Pernament Deacon?

The choice of job seems to be a grey area in this topic?
 
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I think that depends on the types of events you photograph and video and whether that would give scandal to the faithful if the event were something immoral.

I suggest you talk it over with the vocations director for your diocese. It is indeed a tricky area these days.
 
I only cover Catholic Church Weddings, I know what you mean about maybe something immoral and that’s not what I would do.
 
I don’t see any conflict if that’s the case.

Permanent deacons are expected to be employed and support themselves/families. Some may be employed by the parish for running programs like RCIA or what have you, but others do not receive any pay from their parish and rely solely on their secular job.

Certainly talk it over with the vocations director but it should be fine. Was there a specific concern you had?
 
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I was just worried about the fact I usually work every Friday and Saturday at weddings that this might not suit with vigil masses etc, but I am always available for Sunday mass.
I am just a bit nervous about speaking with my PP about my calling, I still don’t feel worthy to have been so lucky to have received such a beautiful call to God. I have been praying for guidance and everything is telling me that this is what has been asked of me, but I have this doubt that I might not be accepted as I know many more men who are much more holy and involved in the church than I am.
 
If you have the call, act on it. Deal with any obstacles if and when they appear, but don’t be hesitant about starting just because it might not work out.
 
I am a full time Wedding Photographer and Videographer, do you think my line of work would exclude me from being a Pernament Deacon?

The choice of job seems to be a grey area in this topic?
Probably not but it’s ultimately up to your diocese. As far as any events you might be in that are morally dubious, that would seem to be very, very remote material cooperation.
 
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The only way this could even begin to be a problem, is if the dresses of the bride or her attendants didn’t conform to traditional Catholic modesty standards
The groom and his posse can where whatever they please.
 
If everything goes well, I will be ordained in May. I work a full-time job as an educator of special needs high school kids. I have a second job with a funeral home- where most funerals and visitations cover the weekends. It has not caused any conflicts so far. My Pastor understands that some masses will not be in the cards for me. Do what you can and give it to God. Keep praying for discernment. I felt called for over two years and had numerous discussions with my Pastor before I filled out the application. You’ll be in my prayers.
 
Assuming the wedding photographer does only Catholic weddings (which is a big assumption as a wedding photographer is likely going to be serving couples of all different religions and no religion in order to make a living) , then if the Catholic pastor believes modesty to be a recurring issue with Catholic brides, then the pastor or the associate priest or deacon working with the couple to plan the wedding will provide guidelines about what clothing is acceptable for a church wedding. It is not up to the wedding photographer to police the clothes on the bride. If he did so as deacon it would be promulgating whatever guidelines come down from the pastor, and would not be a special concern of either a deacon or a wedding photographer.

Having a wedding-related profession raises a whole host of issues if the person is also going to take up Catholic ministry and as someone else said, this isn’t about modesty. For one thing, it is unlikely that a Catholic wedding photographer is going to be able to just limit his work to Catholics unless he lives in some town with a 99 percent Catholic population, and even then there’s likely to be a couple of atheists walk in the door sometime wanting some nice pictures down at the courthouse.
 
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I’d be surprised if your work schedule were an impediment. The diocese probably welcomes with open arms anyone who can help at all.
 
Assuming the wedding photographer does only Catholic weddings (which is a big assumption as a wedding photographer is likely going to be serving couples of all different religions and no religion in order to make a living)
I questioned this myself, but from what the OP said, that’s how I interpreted it.

Wedding photography, in and of itself, is morally neutral. Taking photos of two gay newlyweds kissing would present difficulties. The more that secular society descends into utter degeneracy, some lines of work become very problematical for faithful Catholics. I can foresee a society, if it doesn’t exist already, where Catholics could not become pharmacists (due to being forced to dispense abortion-causing prescriptions) or OB/GYNs unless they could find a totally Catholic practice that did not force them to prescribe contraceptives or perform sterilizations. Very sad.
 
I am sure that his local diocesan formations director has already considered all these issues and probably been over them with previous candidates, and will be able to discuss with him individually in this case.
 
It is the only thing I could think of, that could possibly present a moral problem for a wedding photographer who only does Catholic weddings.
The OP clarified his concern was with conflicts between his job and the Saturday evening mass in post 6. His question wasn’t about a morality issue at all, but a logistical issue.
 
I am a full time Wedding Photographer and Videographer, do you think my line of work would exclude me from being a Pernament Deacon?

The choice of job seems to be a grey area in this topic?
Only on CAF can a perfectly honest question get derailed into a modesty thing.

There is only one answer to the OP: bring up this question with your vocations director as part of your discernment. Only you and your spiritual director can determine whether or not this profession will conflict with a diaconal vocation. It may, or it may not, and if it does, then either you have a vocation to the diaconate and you have to give up this profession, or you don’t have a vocation to the diaconate.

It’s all about your discernment. No one here can answer that for you, not even the priests who post here.
 
The OP said he only does Catholic Church weddings.
Ok, I missed that. My bad. If he only does Catholic weddings then that removes a huge number of issues IMHO and the only one remaining is the scheduling conflict of interest that somebody else discussed. Which can and should be discussed with the vocations director.
 
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