What is a deacon?

[Spirithound]

They say the permanent diaconate is partly to blame for the priest shortage- and for the questioning of the celibacy rule by some in the Church. How would you respond to that?

It is often said that after an ecumenical council, there is a period of unrest, confusion, etc…compound that with the general success of the “doctrine of comfort” and the “culture of death”, and we have a priest shortage. Since the diaconate does require a lengthy formation process, I wouldn’t say it would be very attractive to those who are inclined to ignore a priestly vocation. But, if the permanent diaconate is to blame for the priest shortage, then once we figure out that deacons are not mini-priests, I predict a rise in priestly vocations.
I think my paragraph has been a little scattered, mixing pros and cons, but I know all y’all can figure it out

I thought they received a stipend? I know they all work for a living, but I believe they get an allowance. Not the same as priests though.

I heard that priests received $4000/year, and (possibly or) a stipend or $6 per Mass said (but the benefits are out of this world ), so deacons would get less, if anything. The deacons I know are either retired, or have secular employment.

 

[darryld]

Re Stipend - In our Archdiosese, a deacon only receives a stipend if he is “ministering” outside of his parish. For instance, if a deacon performing a funeral service for a member of his assigned parish, no stipend is paid. If there is a funeral in another parish, the deacon would receive a stipend. The bottom line is, there is no compensation for a deacon in his “normal” parish ministry life. If the deacon is lucky, the parish will provide vestments for his use, but even this is not guaranteed. Many deacons purchase their vestments out of their own pocket!

My first calling is to be a husband and father. The diaconate is always second. There was never a calling to be a priest in my case.