What do deacons do?

[Genesis315]

What exaclty are the duties of a deacon? When I was a kid, we had a deacon who would take my seat in the sanctuary when I altar boyed and he seemed to me just to be hanging out in there, not really doing much .

Now, I know there is much more to being a deacon, so what exactly does/can a deacon do?

 

[Windmill]

Marry people, baptize people, proclaim the gospel, assist at mass as an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion, preside over funerals

 

[puzzleannie]

we have two deacons who just celebrated 20th anniversary of ordination. Our deacons handle almost all weddings, funerals and baptisms. There is only a funeral or wedding Mass by special request and if our pastor is free, which is seldom has he has several diocesan assignments that keep him away from the parish. Deacons oversee marriage preparation classes, are in charge of the physical plant including the school and runs St. Vincent which is a big deal dispensing thousands of dollars a month in direct aid for food, utility and medical bills, used clothing and household items, and is the local food bank center. Deacon also finds housing for homeless and migrants, and acts as a referral service for people with problems. both deacons serve on various diocesan committees as well. they train the altar servers, share the 5 weekend Masses between them including preaching at least half the time. Also a lot of quasi-liturgical activities such as Quinceneras, novenas, wakes, burials. One also oversees our local Catholic radio station.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Windmill:

Marry people, baptize people, proclaim the gospel, assist at mass as an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion, preside over funerals

This is what a deacon does within the Latin Church.

With in the Byzantine Churches a deacon does not baptize nor does he perform marriages or (I believe) does he preside over funerals.

In the Byzantine Church the deacon leads the laity in prayer during the Divine Liturgy, I have heard it said that 80% of the audible prayers at the Divine Liturgy are done by the deacon. The Byzantine deacon also proclaims the Gospel and occasionally preaches. A Byzantine deacon can not give blessings, he blesses as all the laity can.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

That was a very good post by puzzleannie, she covered a great deal. Remember there are two types of deacons- Transitional and permanent. Most of the permanent type have wives and children. They have a very full schedule with ministering, caring for family, and working a paying job, as most deacons are not paid except for reinbursement for traveling Etc.

Transitional deacons are on their way to the priesthood. They are sent to a parish for an internship and have many more hours available for ministry. Some are very good with youth and work with the youth as well as teach classes in the parish and many more duties.

 

[gelsbern]

Deacon Tony560:

That was a very good post by puzzleannie, she covered a great deal. Remember there are two types of deacons- Transitional and permanent. Most of the permanent type have wives and children. They have a very full schedule with ministering, caring for family, and working a paying job, as most deacons are not paid except for reinbursement for traveling Etc.

Transitional deacons are on their way to the priesthood. They are sent to a parish for an internship and have many more hours available for ministry. Some are very good with youth and work with the youth as well as teach classes in the parish and many more duties.

Very true Deacon Tony, but besides the word transitional and permanent, both are of equal rank. And in reality I have found that most permanent deacons are older men who’s children are already raised, and left the house which means that they probably have more time than the poor transitional deacons who are knee deep in studies.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

gelsbern:

Very true Deacon Tony, but besides the word transitional and permanent, both are of equal rank. And in reality I have found that most permanent deacons are older men who’s children are already raised, and left the house which means that they probably have more time than the poor transitional deacons who are knee deep in studies.

Hmm…
Unless you consider the age of 40 to be “older…”

Permanent deacons have strict requirements for a reason. The Church does require a lot of their time. Therefore (at least in our Archdiocese), a man must be married a minimum of ten years, he must have his wife’s complete support, and if he has children, they must also publicly support him. A deacon ordained a year before my husband is a farmer with 5 children (the youngest was 6 at the time). Permanent deacons are expected to be able to continue to support their family, as there is no compensation for the vocation. Transitional deacons are done with most of their classes - their diaconate is a practicum. And puzzleannie did cover a lot of the responsibilities of a permanent deacon. It’s not just some glorified altar-boy role.

 

[viktor_aleksndr]

Windmill:

Marry people, baptize people, proclaim the gospel, assist at mass as an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion, preside over funerals

Are they allowed to perform the different Sacraments (except baptism)?

I think they are ordained to proclaim gospel, give homily, Assist the celebrant in mass, give communion and preach.

 

[puzzleannie]

we also have a transitional deacon for the summer, who has been with us every summer during his seminary years, just ordained. He is working on his English so will be preaching at least one homily a week. We have another transitional deacon, the first vocation from this parish, who was ordained at the same time, assigned to another spot. We don’t see them as much because they are studying as well. Our permanent deacons are both retired from their former jobs, one is not in good health. he receives no pay except if he is given a donation for a wedding or funeral. The other one receives an extremely modest stipend but works or is available at least fulltime, if not more. Nobody is in it for the money, that’s for sure.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

viktor aleksndr:

Are they allowed to perform the different Sacraments (except baptism)?

I think they are ordained to proclaim gospel, give homily, Assist the celebrant in mass, give communion and preach.

They cannot Consecrate the Eucharist, and they cannot perform the Sacraments of Healing (Confession, Annointing of the Sick).

 

[Brendan]

Detroit Sue:

Hmm…
Unless you consider the age of 40 to be “older…”

Yea, no kidding, I’m going to be 41 when I am ordained in 2009 (God willing)

Then again, there are those on this board, shall remain nameless [Cough]Sue[/Cough], who think I’m older than the Douay-Rheims

 

[deaconswife]

Besides their role in the liturgy deacons also serve in other areas of ministry as well. My husband and I are campus ministers for a college in MD (and no this is not his full time job). Other deacons minister in the hospitals, prisons, psychiatric facilities and work as advocates fot the tribunal. One deacon in our diocese who is a financial planner works with a program that helps women in crisis helping them get their financial house in order. So there are many roles done by deacons outside of the liturgy.

 

[Mot_Juste]

I have heard that deacons swear obedience to their bishop, and it led me to wonder how much freedom they give up to be a deacon.

Do they have a choice in what parish they are assigned to? What if their family moves? What if they just want to change parishes for personal reasons?

How much choice do they have in determining the scope of their duties? If work or family requires more of their time, how difficult is it to adjust their church obligations?

Are decisions like retiring or taking a long vacation subject to approval from their pastor or bishop?

–Bill

 

[deaconswife]

Mot Juste:

Do they have a choice in what parish they are assigned to? What if their family moves? What if they just want to change parishes for personal reasons?

Yes, they do have a choice what parish they are assigned to- usually it is their home parish. Some deacons in parishes who have several deacons asked to be assigned to a different parish and were. If a deacon’s job has him relocating outside the diocese he was ordained in, he must petition the bishop of the new diocese to which he has moved to be incardinated in that diocese. Usually permission is given, but it cannot be presumed.
Mot Juste:

How much choice do they have in determining the scope of their duties? If work or family requires more of their time, how difficult is it to adjust their church obligations?

The scope of their duties is determined between the deacon and the pastor of the parish. For example, my husband does not do wake services or funerals due to the demands of his job (he just can’t leave work to do these). The duties are all written out and a contract is signed in our diocese for a period of three years. At the end of that three year period adjustments may be made. If personal issues requiring more of the deacons job before the three year period is up, most pastors are quite accomodating.
Mot Juste:

Are decisions like retiring or taking a long vacation subject to approval from their pastor or bishop?

–Bill

If a deacon wishes to retire from active ministry, he submits a letter of resignation to the Office for Deacons who then refer it to the bishop. I’ve never known anyone who has been refused. As far as vacation, if we are going on vacation, we just let the parish office no so neither of us will be scheduled for that time period. Hop this helps.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

Brendan:

Then again, there are those on this board, shall remain nameless [Cough]Sue[/Cough], who think I’m older than the Douay-Rheims

I saw your birth certificate in the Museum of Natural History in heiroglyphics!

 

[Deacon2006]

Brendan:

Yea, no kidding, I’m going to be 41 when I am ordained in 2009 (God willing)

Good for you Brendan I will be 43 next year when I get ordained. Several in my class will be 45 years and younger.

I find the trend to younger deacons is very much in keeping with the fullest role of a deacon. A deacon should also be man struggling to grow their career, not just the not retired or semi retired; also a man with young children and even babies and not just teenagers or adult children; also a man who making a life choice of 30 to 40 years and not just 10 to 20 years of service.

(Caution rant zone ahead ) As well, I find that many younger candidates are far more informed about the faith they tend to reflect the great call of the new evangelism of JPII. We do not let the seminary instructors with agendas get away with false talk. Generally, I find the younger candidates to be better read and more theologically schooled then the older candidates. In general, many of us have read several early fathers and the documents of several infallible councils and not just the time magazine version of VII. I have heard several of the older deacons and deaconal candidates proudly say they never have read the catchism but the younger candidates routinely carry the catechism to class and in general reject the jungian 60’s pop spirituality of counter culture generation that shaped many formation classes just years ago. (Thank you for your patience )

The one thing I noticed that was not mentioned here is the need for service to the marginalized. The Charism of the deaconate is service and not primarily liturgical. The diocese will normally not ordain a man who does not have a suitable ministry to the marginalised.

God Bless

 

[TJD]

I’ve done some reading in my diocese regarding the training of Deacons and wonder what other diocese require. In Boston, first there is an interview of the candidate and his wife, if married. If deemed acceptable, there is a one year discernment period with and assigned spiritual mentor. If the diocese and the deacon agree that the call to the deaconate is sound, he then enters a three year formation period where he studies at the local seminary. If all goes well he is then ordained and takes a vow of obedience. A parish is then found. I think the pastor requests that a deacon be assigned and the Bishop assigns one of his men. A contract is written up and signed by the priest and deacon. I think it is approved by the Bishop, or at least the office for the Deaconate. The interesting thing is the Deacon does not really work for the Priest. The Deacon works for the Bishop and supports the Priest. I do not know if this means much, but I found it interesting. How does it work where you are from?

One truly remarkable fact is the candidate has to foot the bill for all of his training. I am embarrassed by this reality. Is it the same in other diocese?

Christ’s Peace,

 

[puzzleannie]

Deacons, like religious sisters or brothers, can also apply for paid positions with the diocese, parish, Catholic social service agency, school or other institution and work a regular full or part-time job with salary and benefits. Such as catechetical leader (DRE), teacher, administrator etc.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

TJD- In our diocese the cost is split: one third candidate,one third diocese, one third parish that deacon is from. We have a 7 year program: 3 years pre-diaconate ministry formation(New Wine) 6 months discernment with religious, 3 years formation at the diocese, 6 months internship at your parish. Out of our 30 deacons, only a few have paying diocese positions. The diocese is pondering a new requirement of knowledge of Spanish. Hispanics already are in the majority of those who go to Mass and receive the Sacraments, in many parishes here. Always love to hear folks discuss the much misunderstood deacon. Our bishop feels that in the not too distant future, deacons will outnumber priests in our diocese.

 

[Brendan]

Mot Juste:

I have heard that deacons swear obedience to their bishop, and it led me to wonder how much freedom they give up to be a deacon.

Do they have a choice in what parish they are assigned to? What if their family moves? What if they just want to change parishes for personal reasons?

How much choice do they have in determining the scope of their duties? If work or family requires more of their time, how difficult is it to adjust their church obligations?

Are decisions like retiring or taking a long vacation subject to approval from their pastor or bishop?

–Bill

Like any Ordained ministry, one is fully subject to one’s superior. It is a conscience decsion to follow faithfully the appointed Shepard of the Church.

That said, a wise and caring bishop will take the needs of his deacons into account. Every reasonable effort would be made for a convenient placement for the deacon. But the needs of the diocese also must be factored in.

If a more distant parish needs a deacon more than a local one…well, that deacon can plan on doing some driving.

As far a family moving. That the bishop will also take into account. The fact is, it doesn’t server the needs of a diocese in Missouri to have the deacon commuting for New Jersey each weekend.

There is a process, called incardnation, where a deacon transfers to a new diocese. That process requires the approval of both bishops, but it is almost always given.

In general, the deacon\bishop relationship is one of trust. A deacon places the care of his life into the hands of the bishop, and trusts the bishop to shepherd wisely.