Will Permanant Deacons make a big impact?

[gitsch]

I was wondering if the role of Permanant Deacon in the RCC will
be given more and more responsibilities in the future?

How are they currently being used and accepted in our churches?

Are they seen as more laity or ordained clergy?

thanks,

 

[puzzleannie]

I was wondering if the role of Permanant Deacon
Are they seen as more laity or ordained clergy?

thanks,

they are ordained clergy, so they are not laity, so I don’t understand this question. As to their role, they fill any role for which they are employed or for which they volunteer. They serve in administrative and pastoral capacities in parishes and dioceses or in Catholic institutions. They preach, witness marriages, and baptize. They bless homes and religious articles–something priests don’t often find time for any more. They serve as hospital chaplains, prison visitors, and in charitable organizations.

In this diocese we have deacons doing the pastoral roles in parishes they are allowed to do. Other jobs are: supervise and coordinate report of diocesan synod; promote diocesan evangelizatio program and train parish volunteers in the program; administer various diocesan offices such as immigration, Catholic Charities, social services and the like; chaplains; recruit and supervise prison visitors; recruit and train those who visit the sick; train altar servers; run St. Vincent De Paul societies in the parishes; coordinate pastoral ministries in the colonias (outlying settlements of mostly poor, mostly immigrant populations); DREs and Youth Ministers and RCIA directors; catechists; run adult ed programs and bible studies.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

As mention they are ordained. The only 2 differences of which I am aware separating a Priest and a Deacon are 1) (Big) A deacon can not consecrate the host 2)(small) The deacon can not directly become a Bishop. Some parishes work their deacon to death, others have little work for the deacons

 

[Marauder]

As mention they are ordained. The only 2 differences of which I am aware separating a Priest and a Deacon are 1) (Big) A deacon can not consecrate the host 2)(small) The deacon can not directly become a Bishop. Some parishes work their deacon to death, others have little work for the deacons

Other things that a deacon can not do that a priest can do are:

1. Confession
2. Annointing of the sick

A deacon can be married but can not get married after they become a deacon.

 

[Malcolm_McLean]

As mention they are ordained. The only 2 differences of which I am aware separating a Priest and a Deacon are 1) (Big) A deacon can not consecrate the host 2)(small) The deacon can not directly become a Bishop. Some parishes work their deacon to death, others have little work for the deacons

A priest is the bishop’s assistant, a deacon his servant.
Obviously there is considerable overlap between the two roles, but they are not the same thing, just as the assistant financial director and the assistant to the financial director are quite different figures.

Deacons can become bishops, as far as I am aware. Episcopal ordination can be conferred even on a layman. In practise this almost never happens and bishops are chosen from the more able priests. Once ordained as a bishop, a deacon would no longer be a deacon, of course.

The permanent deaconate has only recently been revived, and we don’t really know how to make best use of it. One obvious function is to replace lay administrators - these are generally committed Catholics who perform good service, but they expect middle class type salaries. A relatively poor diocese like Leeds can’t really afford this. A deacon who is also, say, a qualifed accountant would be a very valuable person to have.

 

[Xenogeek]

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a Baptist preacher of some note in London of the 19th century. He said that a deacon is worse than the Devil; if you resist the Devil he will fly from you but if you resist a deacon he will fly at you.

 

[atsheeran]

Other things that a deacon can not do that a priest can do are:

1. Confession
2. Annointing of the sick

A deacon can be married but can not get married after they become a deacon.

Also, confirmations. A priest can confirm if granted the faculties to do so (either by law or by the local bishop). A deacon cannot confirm period.

 

[jemfinch]

I think as sort of a blanket statement, a deacon cannot administer the sacraments, whereas a priest can.

Anyway, I hope they’re useful; in a decade or so I might be trying to be one Anyone know what the educational requirements to be a deacon are?

Jeremy

 

[Marauder]

I think as sort of a blanket statement, a deacon cannot administer the sacraments, whereas a priest can.

Anyway, I hope they’re useful; in a decade or so I might be trying to be one Anyone know what the educational requirements to be a deacon are?

Jeremy

Actually a deacon can do certain sacraments. They can validly perform baptisms and weddings (as long as it is a non Eucharistic wedding Mass.)

Requirements for deacons vary diocese to diocese.

In the Archdiocese of Washington, these are the base requirements for starting the formation process:

• Age: 30-62 at time of application.
• Status: A Roman Catholic, married or single, of sound moral character, mature faith and possessing a sense of vocation to service.
• Family: If married, a partner in a stable marriage.
• Has actively taken part in parish life.
• Recommendation of his pastor.

 

[puzzleannie]

in addition to qualifications listed above, the wives of candidates go through an orientation, counselling and some courses so they understand and fully agree to the commitment their husband is making. Also in this diocese the candidate must not be over 55 when his training is complete (a rule that has knocke a lot of good potentials out of the new program that just revived after a 10 year hiatus). I don’t know how parishes could function down here without them, and most of them are at or past retirement age.

the new formation program is 3 years for college grads, longer for non-grads, and the new institute conducting the formation is excellent and orthodox and the studies will provide the equivalent of an MA in theology plus practicum on liturgy and other necessary topics. If they are applying for jobs in the diocese or Catholic institutions with other professional prereqs such as MSW or teaching certificate, they must get that on their own or already have it.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I went through the 12 week discernment process in becoming a deacon, in my diocese.

I attended 2 classes per week, with my wife.

The 1st class, the priest gave the history of the deaconate, which he said was difficult to get. However, I remember that he said at one time in the early church, the deacons were considered the eyes and ears of the Bishop. As a result, they had more power than the priest, which could be why they were eventually done away with.

I decided that the diaconate was not for me, and decided not to procede with the program. It was pretty tough. Of the 25 men who began the discernment process with me, only 4 ended up being ordained 5 years later.

 

[quasimodo]

I think as sort of a blanket statement, a deacon cannot administer the sacraments, whereas a priest can.

Anyway, I hope they’re useful; in a decade or so I might be trying to be one Anyone know what the educational requirements to be a deacon are?

Jeremy

Varies from place to place…

here it requires a master’s degree (3 years if you push it hard) or a certificate. Then if you are accepted into formation it is another 3 years going to class every other weekend. (the masters or certificate programs are taught in the local seminary, typically. If you already have a suitable master’s degree, I suppose you could skip that.)

 

[quasimodo]

A priest is the bishop’s assistant, a deacon his servant.

Deacons can become bishops, as far as I am aware. Episcopal ordination can be conferred even on a layman.

eh? I think not. Formerly, perhaps, but no longer.

 

[SemperJase]

Actually a deacon can do certain sacraments. They can validly perform baptisms and weddings (as long as it is a non Eucharistic wedding Mass.)

A deacon officiated at our wedding almost 9 years ago (there was no mass as I was not catholic at the time). We are now expecting our first child. We already have a date set for the same deacon to baptize her.

 

[atsheeran]

Actually a deacon can do certain sacraments. They can validly perform baptisms and weddings (as long as it is a non Eucharistic wedding Mass.)

This is true, but it is important to remember that any person can validly baptize! This is not a power that comes with ordination to the diaconate. Rather, it is the deacon’s role as a cleric that makes him the ordinary minister of baptism.

A deacon can also witness a marriage, same as a priest. But it is important to remember that in the sacrament of marriage it is not the ordained witness who confers the sacrament. The baptized bride and baptized groom actually confer upon each other.

So ordination to the diaconate does not give the deacon power to confer any sacraments beyond what he had before ordination. It does, however, give him the right to play special roles in the celebration of the sacraments.

 

[gitsch]

Would you mind if I asked, what helped you make your decision to apply and then how did you arrive at the decision to stop? I was surprised at the ratio between those that started and finished.
I understand if it is personal.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Would you mind if I asked, what helped you make your decision to apply and then how did you arrive at the decision to stop? I was surprised at the ratio between those that started and finished.
I understand if it is personal.

For me, I thought I was called, I applied, went through discernment, which nearly killed me, and realized I was not being called. At the end of 12 weeks I was completely exhausted. I’d get up at 5 am every morning. I’d exercise, eat breakfast and commute an hour to work. Then, because the diaconate was in next city to where I worked, I would just have a take out supper and meet my wife at the Catholic High School, where classes where being held. We would have Mass first, at 6:30PM, followed by classes until 9:30. After class there was always fellowship, so I would leave @10PM and get home @11PM. After unwinding and talking with my wife, I’d be in bed about 11:30PM. At the same time as our discernment classes, there were candidates in their last year of training. Their classes lasted until 10PM, which meant if I went on into the program, I wouldn’t get home until 11:30PM or later. This is two nights per week for 5 years. I knew I couldn’t hack it and in fact, I got sick right after I left.

However, it’s a win-win situation. Discernment was great and I learned a lot about the Church, myself and where the Lord wanted me to be. It was not in the diaconate. When I left, I felt a total peace about my descision.

I recommend anyone considering the diaconate, to go for it. Even if you don’t become a deacon, you’ll get much from the experience.

Jim

 

[Brendan]

Would you mind if I asked, what helped you make your decision to apply and then how did you arrive at the decision to stop? I was surprised at the ratio between those that started and finished.
I understand if it is personal.

I’m studying towards the Diaconate myself as well.

I’ve put a hold on my formation as we are expecting our 5th child in Dec.

I am still taking classes (at our local seminary), so it will be that much easier when I start back up again.

 

[gitsch]

For me, I thought I was called, I applied, went through discernment, which nearly killed me, and realized I was not being called. At the end of 12 weeks I was completely exhausted. I’d get up at 5 am every morning. I’d exercise, eat breakfast and commute an hour to work. Then, because the diaconate was in next city to where I worked, I would just have a take out supper and meet my wife at the Catholic High School, where classes where being held. We would have Mass first, at 6:30PM, followed by classes until 9:30. After class there was always fellowship, so I would leave @10PM and get home @11PM. After unwinding and talking with my wife, I’d be in bed about 11:30PM. At the same time as our discernment classes, there were candidates in their last year of training. Their classes lasted until 10PM, which meant if I went on into the program, I wouldn’t get home until 11:30PM or later. This is two nights per week for 5 years. I knew I couldn’t hack it and in fact, I got sick right after I left.

However, it’s a win-win situation. Discernment was great and I learned a lot about the Church, myself and where the Lord wanted me to be. It was not in the diaconate. When I left, I felt a total peace about my descision.

I recommend anyone considering the diaconate, to go for it. Even if you don’t become a deacon, you’ll get much from the experience.

Jim

Wow, thanks for sharing this, it is very informative. Two nights a week for 5 years, is quite a commitment for you and your wife.

I’m glad it worked out for you, I obviously have a interest in this area.
Thanks again.

 

[gitsch]

I’m studying towards the Diaconate myself as well.

I’ve put a hold on my formation as we are expecting our 5th child in Dec.

I am still taking classes (at our local seminary), so it will be that much easier when I start back up again.

Thanks for sharing. Will they let you resume where you were
with your original group because your taking classes?