“RECEIVE the Gospel of Christ whose herald you are.
BELIEVE what you read;
TEACH what you believe;
and PRACTICE what you teach.”
"At the direction of the Second Vatican Council, the Permanent Diaconate has been restored as a vital ministry in assisting us bishops in the mission of the Church. By Sacred Ordination and their exercise of 'the ministry of the liturgy, of the word, and of charity,' deacons have a special relationship to us in fulfilling our responsibilities of bringing the knowledge and genuine comfort of Christ to the People of God." Bishop Wilton Gregory, Presidential Address, 11 November 2002
WHAT IS A PERMANENT DEACON?
The ministry of a deacon is similar to but different from that of a priest or bishop. A deacon is ordained and missioned by Christ through the bishop to minister to the needy and the poor and to be a minister of Word and Sacrament, working in obedience to his bishop and in close fraternal cooperation with priests. While all Christians are called to serve others, the deacon is an official sign of this service and he solemnly promises to be a living example of such service for others.
The Diaconate is a ministry rooted deeply in Scriptural accounts of the early church. The word "deacon" comes from the Greek word "diakonia," which means, "to serve." It is grounded in one of the basic messages of the Gospel that says, "unless you serve others, you cannot enter the Kingdom." As Christianity grew, it was necessary to appoint persons as deacons to work alongside the apostles. In Acts 6:1-6, apostles "laid their hands" on deacons "wise and full of the Holy Spirit" to assist them in caring for the needs of the people.
In the years between 100 and 600, deacons grew in numbers and responsibility within the church. They oversaw the pastoral care of the church, administered charities, assisted bishops and had a major role in the church's liturgies. In reality, they were the symbol of the role to serve, responding in a loving way to Jesus' call to all people.
Although the role and office of the diaconate has undergone many changes throughout history, it once again emerged as an important ministry within today's church. The first movement to restore the diaconate as a permanent order began in 1948, in Germany, and reached its fulfillment with approval by bishops in the Vatican document, "Dogmatic Constitution of the Church." The movement to restore the order in the United States began in 1966, when a bishop called attention to the need for a diaconate program in Alaska. In 1968, the National Catholic Conference of Bishops voted to go ahead with a permanent diaconate program for "married and unmarried men of mature years."
Today, the establishment of the diaconate pulls together the dual call of men within the church to both serve and be witness to the fullness of Jesus' love for His people. One of the significant elements of the diaconate is the role of symbol, the symbol of the church's ministry to serve.
Deacons witness to the call to serve in the context of both family and community. In addition to serving the church liturgically, pastorally and charitably, deacons offer support for others in the Church today.
The function of a deacon varies from diocese to diocese, from parish to parish. He is called to be a public symbol of the interconnections between ministry of the Word of God, ministry of the liturgy, and ministry of love and justice.
In short, a Permanent Deacon is:
- Graced by the Sacrament of Holy Orders proclaims by his very life the church’s call to serve the needs of others.
- A herald of the word, to transmit the Gospel in the marketplace where public opinion is formed and ethical norms are applied.
- An interpreter of the needs and desires of the Christian community.
- A promoter of the Church’s service.
- A sign of the Lord Jesus "who came to serve not to be served."
- A minister of the Word... proclaiming the Gospel, preaching and Catechetical instruction.
- An active participant in the ministry of liturgy.
WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF A DEACON?
On June 18, 1967 Pope Paul VI outlined 11 specific tasks which a bishop can assign to a deacon. They are as follows:
- To assist the bishop and priest during liturgical services in regard to all those matters assigned to the deacon by the liturgical books for the various rites.
- To administer Baptism solemnly.
- To reserve the Eucharist and to give communion to himself and others, to bring viaticum to the dying, to give benediction with the monstrance or ciborium.
- To assist at marriages in the name of the Church, when no priest is available and with the bishop's or pastors delegation, to impart the nuptial blessing.
- To administer sacramentals and preside at funeral and burial rites.
- To read the book of Scriptures to the faithful, to instruct and exhort the congregation.
- To preside at the Liturgy of the Hours and at prayer services when no priest is available.
- To lead celebrations of the Word, especially in places where there is a lack of priests.
- To perform charitable and administrative duties and works of social welfare "in the name of the hierarchy.''
- To administer scattered communities of Christians in the name of the parish priest and the bishop.
- To encourage and promote the lay apostolate.
ORDINATION
Through Holy Orders, the deacon acquires a special relationship to the bishop. Though surely "his own man" - by reason of his place in the hierarchy - tradition refers to him as "the bishop's man ... the bishop's ears and eyes." His ministry of charity, word, and sacrament enables the Church to be a credible sign of the Servant Christ in the world.
WHAT ARE THE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS?
The deacon is called personally and ecclesially to serve after the manner of Jesus. He is first and foremost a Christian man in his usual employment and lifestyle, trained and formed by additional study and prayer for a special ministry to the community as an ordained minister. To help assure that a permanent deacon can fulfill his responsibilities and meet the demands of his chosen ministry, the Diocese of Burlington seeks the following qualities in a prospective candidate:
- Solid faith in God.
- Clear understanding of the Church, its current teaching and role in today's world.
- Sense of call to serve the people of God as deacon.
- Understanding and willingness to accept the demands of a lifelong commitment to deaconal ministry in the Church.
A prospective candidate is expected to give evidence -through various materials submitted in the application process — of the following:
- At least 32 years of age at start of formation program and no older than 60 years of age
- Active participation in the Catholic faith
- Baptism. Confirmation, and Matrimony (it married), all within the Catholic Church
- Record of service in the Church, with some demonstrated leadership roles
- Approval and support of the parish (e.g., pastor. parish council)
- Sufficient economic security and job stability
- Good health
- Personal and psychological stability
- Ability to work well with others
- Openness to ongoing personal and spiritual growth
- Ability to handle college level work
- Completion of the Diocesan Ministry Training Program or Institute for Catholic Enrichment plus the first year of the Lay Apostolate Formation Program
An applicant can be single or married. If he is married he must give evidence of:
- A stable, growing marriage
- The understanding and approval of his spouse of the diaconal commitment
Because of their unique sacramental relationship, it is necessary that the wives of applicants participate in the activities of the formation program. Attendance at retreats and days of recollection is required. Attendance at classes is strongly encouraged.
If a deacon is unmarried at the time of ordination, or he becomes a widower after ordination, he must remain unmarried in accordance with the Church's discipline for the diaconate.
For more information contact:
Deacon Tom Cooney, Director
Diocese of Burlington
Office of the Permanent Diaconate
592 Cole Hill Road
Morrisville, VT 05661
(802) 224-6161
Email:
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More information on Wives of Married Deacons
More information on the History of the Diaconate
Vermont Deacons and Wives:
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