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Apryl
Guest
Why do we have Permanent Deacons? What exactly is their role? 
How does that role differ from that of a Minister of Service?
How does that role differ from that of a Minister of Service?
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DCNBILL
Guest
Apryl, Here are a few good sites to answer your question. If you have anything specific I would be happy to address them.
deacons.net/Articles/The_Role_of_the_Permanent_Deacon.htm
deacons.net/Articles/CanonLaw.htm
usccb.org/deacon/faqs.shtml
deacons.net/Articles/The_Role_of_the_Permanent_Deacon.htm
deacons.net/Articles/CanonLaw.htm
usccb.org/deacon/faqs.shtml
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FAB
Guest
The Permanent Deacon is ordained, as such is part of the Holy Orders. He has a three fold position, service to the word, liturgy and charity, having the facility to proclaim the Gospel and to peach at mass, also to teach and spread the Gospel. He assist the preist at the mass in the liturgy of the mass, he also can administer the sacraments of baptism (for those under the age of reason), of marriage, presides at funerals and vigils, presides at liturgy of the word. He has a prime role in working in the church on social justice issues as a minister of charity, from visiting jails, working with the poor, working in hospitals, as a voice for those with no voice.Why do we have Permanent Deacons? What exactly is their role?
How does that role differ from that of a Minister of Service?
In the future, we will aslo see deacons bcome parish administrators for parishes without priest.
Much more than a minister if service.
Peace, FAB
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otjm
Guest
the primary roll is well set out by post 2 ( I ahve not read the links for post 1); however, there is one minor item missing.
A deacon is directly responsible to the bishop; that is, the bishop is his direct boss. He is there to serve the bishop as the bishop needs, and is subject to any restrictions the bishop might reasonably, within Canon law, make.
In other words, a permanent Deacon might work, for example, in the Chancery; or he might work in a mission position (e.g. specifically with the poor, at a soup kitchen, etc.) or might be charged with heading up a specific program.
He also, or otherwise might be assigned to a parish (as our Deacon is) and work primarily to assist the priest(s) in the parish, and might be tasked with teaching, or training, or other ministries, and although he might take his directions from the priest when so assigned, his first “boss” is still the bishop.
We had a senior Deacon visiting our parish one week on behalf of the bishop. Our pastor normally goes up before Mass starts (prior to the entrance procession) and give his usual 2 to 3 minute sketch of the background of the readings. The Deacon politley but in no uncertain terms told him that when the Deacon is giving the homily, he should not do this as he is effectively stepping on the Deacon’s homily before the Deacon gets to that part. Now we know when the Deacon is going to preach, as that is the Mass where Father does not say anything beforehand!
Deacons may give the homily, but they are in second place to the pastor/celebrant as that should be primarily (but not exclusively) the priest’s roll. However, if the Deacon is present, he is the one to proclaim the Gospel, not the priest.
A deacon is directly responsible to the bishop; that is, the bishop is his direct boss. He is there to serve the bishop as the bishop needs, and is subject to any restrictions the bishop might reasonably, within Canon law, make.
In other words, a permanent Deacon might work, for example, in the Chancery; or he might work in a mission position (e.g. specifically with the poor, at a soup kitchen, etc.) or might be charged with heading up a specific program.
He also, or otherwise might be assigned to a parish (as our Deacon is) and work primarily to assist the priest(s) in the parish, and might be tasked with teaching, or training, or other ministries, and although he might take his directions from the priest when so assigned, his first “boss” is still the bishop.
We had a senior Deacon visiting our parish one week on behalf of the bishop. Our pastor normally goes up before Mass starts (prior to the entrance procession) and give his usual 2 to 3 minute sketch of the background of the readings. The Deacon politley but in no uncertain terms told him that when the Deacon is giving the homily, he should not do this as he is effectively stepping on the Deacon’s homily before the Deacon gets to that part. Now we know when the Deacon is going to preach, as that is the Mass where Father does not say anything beforehand!
Deacons may give the homily, but they are in second place to the pastor/celebrant as that should be primarily (but not exclusively) the priest’s roll. However, if the Deacon is present, he is the one to proclaim the Gospel, not the priest.
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otjm
Guest
Sorry, that one is not on my radar screen… Sounds like a Master of Ceremonies (the last one I saw was at the Cathedral for the Rite of Election, and was done by a priest I know; he basically sees that everyone finds their mark when they need to, as he has people there who have never been through the rite. I end up de facto the MC during part of the Holy Saturday liturgy as the Catechuments and Candidates usually are too awestruck to know that they are doing; however, the rest of the Mass proceeds without my interjection. Quite nicely, too.
However, there may be some other definition; I am just not familiar with the term.
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Elizium23
Guest
I have never heard of a Minister of Service in the Catholic Church. I googled it with no results. Can you please explain what you mean by this term?
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Apryl
Guest
I guess that’s a big part of why I’m asking you guys!
The Minister of Service has existed in the Archdiocese of Detroit for more than 30 years now
They serve on the altar and they help with the distribution of Communion. At my church, they typically handle the Stations of the Cross during Lent. Before Mass, they make sure that we have enough Hosts and the Wine is where it needs to be.
If there is no Altar Server, they ring the bells.
When it is time to bring up the Eucharistic Gifts, they lead the people bearing the gifts up.
… but I really don’t know what they do and why.
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FAB
Guest
Sounds like the role of an Acolyte.I guess that’s a big part of why I’m asking you guys!
The Minister of Service has existed in the Archdiocese of Detroit for more than 30 years now
They serve on the altar and they help with the distribution of Communion. At my church, they typically handle the Stations of the Cross during Lent. Before Mass, they make sure that we have enough Hosts and the Wine is where it needs to be.
If there is no Altar Server, they ring the bells.
When it is time to bring up the Eucharistic Gifts, they lead the people bearing the gifts up.
… but I really don’t know what they do and why.
Peace,
FAB
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otjm
Guest
Or, it could be a sacristan.
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Bluegoat
Guest
It sounds rather like what we call the MC. This person is sometimes also the sacristan, but essentially is the head server. Often he may be in charge of organizing the servers on a weekly basis, training them, and during the Mass he oversees and offers promps if required, or gives the evil eye to youngsters who are losing focus.
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Phemie
Guest
Apryl, I searched the Archidiocese of Detroit’s website for the term but that search didn’t yield anything. Is the Minister of Service always a man?
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Apryl
Guest
No, not always a man.Usually male, but not always.
They are NOT Deacons. They can NOT do the Gospel or the Homily, or confer any sacraments.
… but then, I don’t know much about what Deacons do (other than I know that Deacons can do baptisms and marriages and read the Gospel or do a Homily)
I have been Catholic all of my life, but there are so many things I never noticed before.
I guess if I understood what a Sacristy or an Acolyte was (when we begin Mass, we often would say, ‘Stand as we welcome our Celebrant, Ushers and Acolytes’… but who are the Acolytes? I dunno)
I’m asking here because I know that I’m not the ONLY one who doesn’t know
and I think the role is something that may be used in many places, and we don’t know the names for the role.Then, I also want to know of the proper distinctions. I’m sure that there is some overlap that is necessary, and some that just happened and has been overlooked
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puzzleannie
Guest
I am not familiar with the term
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Phemie
Guest
No, not always a man.Usually male, but not always.
OK, that rules out instituted acolytes.
An instituted acolyte is a man (can’t be a woman) that has been instituted to that ministry by the bishop. That man would usually do what we think of as an altar server’s job but, in reality, it’s the reverse, the altar server is doing the instituted acolyte’s job.
Acolyte is a step on the way to being a Deacon (permanent or transitional) but bishops may institute men to that ministry who have no desire other than to serve at the altar. They would be permanent instituted acolytes.
Instituted acolytes can do things that other ministers, such as regular altar servers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, cannot do (such as purify the sacred vessels). They are also automatically EMHCs if those are required.
They are NOT Deacons. They can NOT do the Gospel or the Homily, or confer any sacraments.
… but then, I don’t know much about what Deacons do (other than I know that Deacons can do baptisms and marriages and read the Gospel or do a Homily)
I have been Catholic all of my life, but there are so many things I never noticed before.
I guess if I understood what a Sacristy
That’s ‘sacristan’, the person who usually sets up for Mass, is responsible to see to the upkeep of the altar linens and vestments, makes sure the ritual books are prepared for the various liturgies, etc. A sacristan may be a man or a woman.
or an Acolyte was (when we begin Mass, we often would say, ‘Stand as we welcome our Celebrant, Ushers and Acolytes’… but who are the Acolytes? I dunno)
Explained above
I’m asking here because I know that I’m not the ONLY one who doesn’t know
Then, I also want to know of the proper distinctions. I’m sure that there is some overlap that is necessary, and some that just happened and has been overlooked
I have to admit that to me it sounds like a made-up title and it’s part MC and part Commentator. I don’t get why they ‘lead’ the Offertory Procession.
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otjm
Guest
A sacristy is a place, usually where the priest robes for Mass.
A sacristan is a person, one who prepares the altar for Mass (and any attendant areas; e,g, setting up the wine and hosts if they are to be brought up to the altar after the Creed); they may be responsible for maintaining vestments and whatever servers wear, seeing that supplies are kept up (candles, incense, wine and hosts) and may train individuals in their various roles.
An acolyte is a term that has been used for altar servers, but used to be one of the minor orders until they were done away with, and has now been a position that a male may be called to for the Church; they would serve at the altar, be allowed to clean the sacred vessels after Communion and may ahve a piriority over an EMHC for distributing Communion (on that one I am not entirely sure). It is up to the bishop if he will have men offically designated as acolytes; it is not required. Women and girls may not be acolytes, but they may be altar servers.
We used the term liberally when I was an altar boy long before Vatican 2, but incorrectly as it was then a part of minor orders and 6th grade boys were not receiving such; so the term carries on for people who are not officially acolytes in popular useage.
A sacristan is a person, one who prepares the altar for Mass (and any attendant areas; e,g, setting up the wine and hosts if they are to be brought up to the altar after the Creed); they may be responsible for maintaining vestments and whatever servers wear, seeing that supplies are kept up (candles, incense, wine and hosts) and may train individuals in their various roles.
An acolyte is a term that has been used for altar servers, but used to be one of the minor orders until they were done away with, and has now been a position that a male may be called to for the Church; they would serve at the altar, be allowed to clean the sacred vessels after Communion and may ahve a piriority over an EMHC for distributing Communion (on that one I am not entirely sure). It is up to the bishop if he will have men offically designated as acolytes; it is not required. Women and girls may not be acolytes, but they may be altar servers.
We used the term liberally when I was an altar boy long before Vatican 2, but incorrectly as it was then a part of minor orders and 6th grade boys were not receiving such; so the term carries on for people who are not officially acolytes in popular useage.
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DCNBILL
Guest
Note that men in priestly/diaconal formation are still installed as lector and acolyte, usually for a years time for each, prior to being ordained a deacon. The other “minor orders” such as porter, exorcist ect. have indeed been done away with.
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