About the Diaconate

Do you feel a “tug on your heart,” a yearning to be more involved in ministry to God’s people? Perhaps you have been influenced by the deacon in your parish to explore this vocation. Maybe you listened to an inspirational homily or experienced a deacon comforting someone in distress and your heart has been touched.

We are all introduced to the diaconate in chapter six of The Acts of the Apostles. The early Church was faced with the dilemma of caring for the poor. Specifically, the Greek speaking widows were being neglected. The situation was taken to the Apostles and after prayerful consideration they declared, “Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task (Acts 6:3).”1 The community found this to be a workable solution and they selected Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch to serve.

The word (service) is derived from the Greek word diakonos. The title (deacon ) is derived from this same Greek word. The diaconate is a ministry in the Roman Catholic Church and one of three ordained ministries in the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Although some believe the diaconate disappeared at some point, this is not true. References to the permanent form of the diaconate did disappear after the 5th century C.E. and in the Middle Ages, it was redefined. The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons states the following:

“It had been transformed from a permanent form of official ministry and redefined into a transitory stage on the way to ultimate ordination into the presbyterate.” The discussion of the diaconate became an important topic for the Council of Trent (1545-1563). The council determined that it was important to identify the functions of the deacon to avoid confusion. The council decided that the deacon could assist at the altar, proclaim the Gospel, exhort the people, and care for the altar. The deacon could baptize and be permitted to preach providing permission was granted by the bishop. Vatican II took up the discussion of the restoration of the diaconate as a permanent state. After much prayerful debate and discussion, The Second Vatican Council decided to renew the diaconate. Pope Paul VI stressed that the Council was channeled on one direction and that direction was the service of humankind. “This vision of the church-as-servant finds a concrete sacramental expression in the renewed diaconate.”

A Little More About who we are…

Permanent Diaconate

The Permanent Diaconate has been a restored Office of the Church since 1968. Permanent Deacons in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese receive a minimum of 5 years of academic education and diaconal formation. Some have advanced degrees such as a Master of Arts in Theology or other Ecclesial Discipline.

A Deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. There are three groups, or Orders of ordained ministers in the Church: Bishops, Priests (presbyters) and Deacons.

Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the word of Christ, who came “to serve and not be served.” The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the Deacon, in virtue of his sacramental ordination and through his various ministries, is to be a servant in a servant-Church.

The various ministries of the Deacon are:

As ministers of the Word, Deacons:

Carry the Book of Gospels
Proclaim the Gospel
Guide the faithful people by giving them instruction
Announce the intentions of the Universal Prayer
Preach and teach in the name of the Church
Provide spiritual direction and counsel (if properly trained)

As ministers of Sacrament and Prayer, Deacons:

Baptize
Witness marriages
Function as ORDINARYministers of the Eucharist
Assist Priests and Bishops at Mass
Lead the faithful in prayer and Eucharistic Devotion
Assist with Christian Burial by conducting Vigils, Services without a Mass and Committals
Other functions at special liturgies as noted in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal

As ministers of Charity, Deacons:

Are leaders in identifying the needs of others, then organizing the Church’s resources to meet those needs

Deacons, priests, and bishops are considered clerics, members of the clergy, in the Catholic Church. Just as a Priest is normally addressed as “Father”, the Deacon is addressed as “Deacon _______ (first or last name as the Deacon prefers).”

The Attire of the Permanent Deacon:

Although very similar, the vestments of the Deacon and those of the Priest are different. Both wear a white alb. However, the colored stole of the Deacon is worn diagonally while that of the Priest is worn vertically. The outer garment of the Deacon is a dalmatic and it has sleeves. That of the Priest is called a chasuble and does not have sleeves.

In the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese, the proper formal non-liturgical attire of the Deacon is normally a tie and jacket. Sometimes the Deacon wears a lapel pin, which is a cross with a diagonal stole on top of it. This is the symbol of the office of the Permanent Diaconate.

To learn more about the Diaconate contact:
The Office of Permanent Diaconate
Deacon Michael Russo, Director
814-288-3036 or michael.russo@atlanticbb.net