Why is it that some diocese don't have deacons?

[Brendan]

It is troubling in my diocese that they are assigning deacons to be “temporary” administrators in small parishes, in lieu of a priest, due to the priest shortage. The problem is not that they are not competent, but that this means pulling a deacon away from the ministry of charity he would normally be working in. .

here is where I would differ.

The establishment of the Diaconate was to free the priests and bishops to focus more intently in their particular gifts, to do what the laity and the Deacons could not.

This is exactly what is happening here. There is still a priest who is the designated Pastor of this (and every) parish. What this Deacon is doing is handling the day to day work in the operation of the parish. So that when the priest comes, he can do what God intents, to administer the Sacraments that the unique to Sacerdotal Orders.

Yes, feeding widows and orphans is part of their ministry as well, but that is not the specific reason that Christ established this particular ministry, it was not as if the Apostles could not ‘wait on tables’ or even that they did not have a deep desire to do so, but it was so that they could concentrate on engaging in the particular gifts that God had granted them, as bishops and priests.

yes, there needs to be more priests, but what is being asked of these Deacons is not outside their calling, but a part of it.

 

[Kielbasi]

Thank you. I really appreciate knowing. I think the fact that you were chosen is extremely important. I think in many places if a notice appeared in the bulletin announcing that candidates for permanent institution to lector and acolyte were sought, three things would happen:

1.) Many of the best suited men would not be heard from.

2.) Quite a few very poorly suited men would be at the front of the line.

3.) People would get upset that it would lessen the need for temporarily commissioned EMsHC.

I suppose that these effects could have in some places to some degree.

But I would expect that- in most places- those men seen as “best suited” would be recruited to sign up,and those who are poorly suited would be rejected. Lastly, I don’t think that many are so committed that they would get upset at less of a need for temporary EMSHC’s.

 

[Glennon_P]

Thank you. I really appreciate knowing. I think the fact that you were chosen is extremely important. I think in many places if a notice appeared in the bulletin announcing that candidates for permanent institution to lector and acolyte were sought, three things would happen:

1.) Many of the best suited men would not be heard from.

2.) Quite a few very poorly suited men would be at the front of the line.

3.) People would get upset that it would lessen the need for temporarily commissioned EMsHC.

I forgot to mention that Bishop Bruskewitz also allowed for non-instituted readers and EMHCs. He left it up to the pastor to decide if he wanted to use only instituted lectors and acolytes or a combination of lectors, acolytes, readers, and EMHCs. My pastor has chosen to use only instituted lectors and acolytes during Mass, while the EMHCs bring Communion to the homebound and sick on Sundays; I know other parishes use readers and EMHCs during Mass but I don’t know what the percentages might be.

 

[Phemie]

This is exactly what is happening here. There is still a priest who is the designated Pastor of this (and every) parish. What this Deacon is doing is handling the day to day work in the operation of the parish. So that when the priest comes, he can do what God intents, to administer the Sacraments that the unique to Sacerdotal Orders.

Actually, not every parish has a Pastor. A priest can only be Pastor of one parish.

In my diocese only 4 of the 28 parishes have a “Pastor”. Most of the rest have a priest “Administrator”, one has a lay “Director of Parish Life”, a Presentation Sister . Those Administrators are for the most part religious priests, not incardinated to our diocese, come from what we would have considered mission territory two generations ago, and could be recalled by their bishop or their Superior at any time. Appointing them as administrators allows the bishop to move them much more often.

 

[starlady88]

here is where I would differ.

The establishment of the Diaconate was to free the priests and bishops to focus more intently in their particular gifts, to do what the laity and the Deacons could not.

This is exactly what is happening here. There is still a priest who is the designated Pastor of this (and every) parish. What this Deacon is doing is handling the day to day work in the operation of the parish. So that when the priest comes, he can do what God intents, to administer the Sacraments that the unique to Sacerdotal Orders.

Yes, feeding widows and orphans is part of their ministry as well, but that is not the specific reason that Christ established this particular ministry, it was not as if the Apostles could not ‘wait on tables’ or even that they did not have a deep desire to do so, but it was so that they could concentrate on engaging in the particular gifts that God had granted them, as bishops and priests.

yes, there needs to be more priests, but what is being asked of these Deacons is not outside their calling, but a part of it.

My diocese stresses the difference by highlighting priests as Christ in the role of Priest, and deacons as Christ in the role of Servant. The image of Christ washing the feet of his disciples is a favored example of the deacon’s role in the Church. Of course priests have a very large role as servants as well and that is not negated. That’s just the way that it is looked at in my diocese’s deacon formation as a way of explaining the role of deacon by showing that deacons are servants of the Church and their communities…they don’t take the place of priests.

Actually, not every parish has a Pastor. A priest can only be Pastor of one parish.

I’m not sure if there’s a specific Canon tied to this, but it seems to me that it is entirely possible for two parishes to have the same pastor. This is quite common in rural areas. My hometown parish shares a pastor with another parish in a neighboring town. He is considered pastor of two distinct parish communities. I could be mistaken, but that is how it has been in my experience.

 

[Solomonson]

It is interesting that one poster commented on the deacon’s role in the Eastern liturgy; I noticed it this past weekend, when I happened to be at an Eastern Catholic liturgy for the first time in many years.

The diaconate has a definite ministry of its own, different from the priest, spelled out even in Acts. Some men called to be priests could not do this particular calling, primarily social in nature. I have worked alongside deacons in ministries where I volunteer.
…

In some Eastern Catholic churches, the deacon’s ministry is highly liturgical and much less “social” as you call it.

The vocations of the priest and deacon are indeed distinctly different. Too often I think that many equate deacons to “mini-priests” and that’s just not true. Yet I am sure that if the married priesthood was ever fully embraced in the West, many of the first married priests would come from the permanent diaconate. That’s quite troubling when you think about it.

 

[Solomonson]

I forgot to mention that Bishop Bruskewitz also allowed for non-instituted readers and EMHCs. He left it up to the pastor to decide if he wanted to use only instituted lectors and acolytes or a combination of lectors, acolytes, readers, and EMHCs. My pastor has chosen to use only instituted lectors and acolytes during Mass, while the EMHCs bring Communion to the homebound and sick on Sundays; I know other parishes use readers and EMHCs during Mass but I don’t know what the percentages might be.

That is very interesting. Thank you.

It sounds like the training you went through would be appropriate for anyone being instituted or commissioned to these ministries.

 

[Solomonson]

I suppose that these effects could have in some places to some degree.

But I would expect that- in most places- those men seen as “best suited” would be recruited to sign up,and those who are poorly suited would be rejected. Lastly, I don’t think that many are so committed that they would get upset at less of a need for temporary EMSHC’s.

I wouldn’t. I would expect that in “some” places or possibly “a few” places, but not in most. I think that’s one of the most difficult and critical abilities the Church could possibly develop – the ability to do a better job in accepting/rejecting people (both lay and clerical) into ministry.

Yes I am aware that the Holy Spirit is a part of the equation. I’m also aware the Holy Spirit is ignored/subverted on a regular basis too in favor of “politics”, urgent need, etc.

 

[Phemie]

I’m not sure if there’s a specific Canon tied to this, but it seems to me that it is entirely possible for two parishes to have the same pastor. This is quite common in rural areas. My hometown parish shares a pastor with another parish in a neighboring town. He is considered pastor of two distinct parish communities. I could be mistaken, but that is how it has been in my experience.

Perhaps I’m interpreting this canon wrong.

Can. 526 §1. A pastor is to have the parochial care of only one parish; nevertheless, because of a lack of priests or other circumstances, the care of several neighboring parishes can be entrusted to the same pastor.

In parish groupings that I’m familiar with, a priest was Pastor of one parish and Administrator of 3 more.

 

[twf]

Deacon,
I completely agree. That being said, not all bishops do. Thankfully my own archdiocese finally “restored” (implemented) the permanent diaconate several years ago…and we are finally seeing Deacons in a few parishes.

 

[Young_Thinker]

HA! Come to my Archdiocese. Our tiny parish has 5 of them!
They pay for their own training, and their profs are highly educated (PhD) laypersons and other priests. Their wives even attend their own set of classes.
It’s thriving here. One of the Deacons leads our RCIA program, and one gave a wonderful homily yesterday on Divine Mercy. Another guides the finance dept. and another is the go-to person for assisting people with funeral planning and grief counseling. The eldest and his wife do Rachel’s VIneyard, the ministry to those who have lost a child to miscarriage or any other death of a child, and they also help me teach First Communion Prep and Confirmation prep. They do a lot.
Having said that, some parishes have none. Those pastors make a decision that they don’t really need or want someone else with them. Deacons are not forced on a parish.

5? Wow! That’s really neat.

 

[phil19034]

I agree with you 100%. However, I do think that priestly vocations MIGHT be a reason for some bishops (or at least in 80s and 90s).

If a diocese with no permanent deacons has it’s own seminary and has a good priest to catholic ratio; what logical reason exists (other than perceived clericalism) for not creating a diaconate program other than a fear of reduced priestly vocations? Again, I’m looking more to nations like Poland.