The posts by “grandfather” and “m134e5” that denigrate the diaconate have been bothering me.
To be sure there have been problems and challenges dealing with the implementation of the permanent diaconate here in the United States and Canada. There have been problems with the academic and spiritual formation of deacons and how they have been used in various dioceses across the country. A new National Directory for the Formation, Life and Ministry of Permanent Deacons in the United States was published on 26 December 2004 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that has done wonders to correct those faults. You can download a copy at
usccb.org/deacon/5-368.pdf. I encourage you to read this document in order to understand what the diaconate is supposed to be and how men are supposed to be formed to be good Deacons.
I am currently in formation to be a deacon. It is a five year program that will include over 1060 classroom hours of instruction covering topics such as Systematic Theology, Liturgy, Ecclesiology, Christology, Catechetics, Homiletics, Moral Theology, the Synoptic Gospels, Paul’s Letters, the Old Testament, a Clinical Pastoral Orientation on Hospital Ministry, and classes on Pastoral Care. Next summer I will have to take a week of my vacation time from work to attend a Homiletics Workshop at the seminary. If we don’t get a passing grade in Homiletics we have been told that we will not get the faculties to preach after ordination from the Archbishop until we do pass a Homiletics course. Only two weekends (about 40 hours or 3% of the total academic instruction) involve a Liturgical Practicum which is focused at the Deacon’s role at the alter during Mass and in conducting various liturgies.
On top of this we have been asked to pray morning and evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, undergo monthly spiritual direction, and maintain involvement with ministry in our parish. For me that means serving as a Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and teaching classes as a member of the RCIA team.
Last year I spent $362.28 purchasing text books, $157.50 for spiritual retreats, and drove 920 miles attending classes at various locations. By the way I work 80 hours a week and still find time to be a volunteer coach for my son’s sports teams and scout troop when I’m not writing papers and reading text books for class.
Why I’m I doing this? Certainly not to be a “glorified altar boy”. (Clearly with only 3% of our formation focused on service to the alter the Church expects more from us as well.) For me, and all of my brothers in formation, it is in answer to a call from God to be a humble servant of the Lord.
My pastor and I discussed last month about what role(s) a deacon could fill in our parish. I told him that I saw the deacon’s role as doing everything he could to free up the pastor’s time to do those things that only a priest can do. Areas that he thought he needed help were prison ministry, burial rites at the VA Cemetery, and continued work with the RCIA. He also asked that my wife and I consider working on the marriage preparation team for our region. This was an area that he thought married clergy could be of particular benefit.
While laity can and do support these ministries, these are all things that the Church should have Catholic clergy involved in…and often don’t…due to the shortage of priests. One of the reasons that the permanent diaconate was brought back was to meet exactly these kinds of needs.
Do I want to be a married priest? Absolutely not…I couldn’t afford the pay cut. But I do want to serve my Church, and the people of God, and the diaconate allows me to do just that.
