Canon Law says they must be 25 or older if they are single, 35 or older if they are married although the conference of bishops may establish an older age. I would imagine it is to ensure sufficient maturity. I think it also presumes that the married man will have had a significant period devoted to the marriage alone before embarking on this ministry. I’m not sure how a bishop would view a 35 year old newlywed seeking ordination to the diaconate.
Many decades ago that might have been realistic but at 35 today many men are just starting their families. I don’t think I’ve seen any Catholic marriages lately where the groom was under 25. When DH was 35 (some 25 years ago) we had a 5 year old, a 2 1/2 year old and a newborn.
Then the bishop would consider this and not accept him.
I think this is a very correct observation. Different dioceses seem to respond to this fact in different ways. I have seen pictures of men at their diaconal ordinations holding their young children in their arms (toddler age). On the other hand, I know of dioceses (in New England anyway) that skew much older - and a man isn’t considered if he has any child younger than high school. Our diocese doesn’t appear to ordain anyone younger than around 50+, and late 50’s is pretty common here.
Depends on the bishop. I have known a few deacons who still had young children.
As others have suggested, the age requirements are usually taking marriage into account.
