What Is a Deacon?

[Michie]

EXPLAINER: Understanding the ministry of liturgy, word and charity.

It’s possible to define deacons in a number of ways — by their state in life, ministries, ordination, history or calling — but it’s a mistake to reduce them to the roles or functions. This may be why the ministry is poorly understood by many, who view them as either incomplete priests or tall altar boys. The charism of diakonia calls a man to be a visible sign of the connection between the liturgy and word and the Church’s own call to service.

As Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez has explained, a deacon is “called to minister in persona Christi Servi — in the person of Christ the Servant. Ordination configures him to Jesus in his most humble form — as the Son of God who emptied himself to come among us in the form of a servant; as the Son of Man who came not to be served, but to serve.”

Approximately 19,000 deacons serve in the United States, which represents a significant portion (about 40%) of the estimated 50,450 worldwide. This makes them a very visible presence in the U.S., and as priestly vocations decline, these men are being asked to take on more responsibilities in their parishes. This weekend, as they gather for the Jubilee of Deacons in Rome, the Register offers an explainer.

In the Bible and Church History​

Continued below.

What Is a Deacon?

EXPLAINER: Understanding the ministry of liturgy, word and charity.

www.ncregister.com

 

[FaithT]

EXPLAINER: Understanding the ministry of liturgy, word and charity.

It’s possible to define deacons in a number of ways — by their state in life, ministries, ordination, history or calling — but it’s a mistake to reduce them to the roles or functions. This may be why the ministry is poorly understood by many, who view them as either incomplete priests or tall altar boys. The charism of diakonia calls a man to be a visible sign of the connection between the liturgy and word and the Church’s own call to service.

As Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez has explained, a deacon is “called to minister in persona Christi Servi — in the person of Christ the Servant. Ordination configures him to Jesus in his most humble form — as the Son of God who emptied himself to come among us in the form of a servant; as the Son of Man who came not to be served, but to serve.”

Approximately 19,000 deacons serve in the United States, which represents a significant portion (about 40%) of the estimated 50,450 worldwide. This makes them a very visible presence in the U.S., and as priestly vocations decline, these men are being asked to take on more responsibilities in their parishes. This weekend, as they gather for the Jubilee of Deacons in Rome, the Register offers an explainer.

In the Bible and Church History​

Continued below.

What Is a Deacon?

EXPLAINER: Understanding the ministry of liturgy, word and charity.

www.ncregister.com

I love my Deacons.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

When I was in the 12 week course discerning the Permanent Diaconate, one of the teachers,
Fr Piccolomini (RIP) gave us a history class on the diaconate.

He said that the deacons reported directly to the bishops. This ended up causing a
distrust between the presbyters (priests) and deacons as the deacons would report
to the bishop what the priest were doing. Today as I understand it, the permanent
deacon reports to the bishop but are under contract between the pastor of the parish
and the dioceses. The pastor is still over the deacon in his parish.

 

[RileyG]

I love my Deacons.

We only have 2 permanent deacons in my diocese, because we tend to have a large number of seminarians and ordinations. I hope the trend continues!

We definitely need the deacons, though!

 

[FaithT]

We only have 2 permanent deacons in my diocese, because we tend to have a large number of seminarians and ordinations. I hope the trend continues!

We definitely need the deacons, though!

We currently have four.