In recent years, Deacons have become more and more visible in the life of the Church, especially at the parish level.  Yet a lot of folks have never been told what deacons are all about.  The purpose of this little article is to impart some information about the office of deacon, called the diaconate.

Deacons have been around from the very beginning of the Church.  St. Stephen, the first martyr, was also among the first deacons.  In biblical times and for many centuries afterwards, deacons functioned in an important role in the life of the Church.  But as the centuries rolled on, the role of the deacon diminished.  By the time the Second Vatican Council convened (1961), the diaconate consisted mostly as a “transitional office”. Ordination to the diaconate was looked upon chiefly as the last stepping stone to ordination to the priesthood.

The Council Fathers recognized that this was not the best use of the diaconate, so they proposed a restoration of the office.  Instead of looking upon the diaconate only as a temporary and transitional thing, ordination to the diaconate would allow for the office to be held on a permanent basis – a return to the ancient practice of the Church.  At present, there are about 40,000 so-called “Permanent Deacons” in the world, 15,000 in the United States, and about 50 in the Diocese of Sioux City.

Deacons are clergy.  You may remember from your catechism that there are three levels of ordained ministry:  Bishops, Priests, and Deacons -- in that order!  A deacon, when ordained, swears loyalty to his Bishop and his successors.  Most, but not all, deacons are assigned to a parish.   But even in these cases, although he serves under the guidance of the pastor and takes directions from him, the deacon is always the “Bishop’s man”, and “serves at the pleasure of the Bishop”.

A deacon serves “gratuitously”.  That is fancy talk for the fact that no deacon is paid for being a deacon.  I know of no exceptions.  There are deacons who are paid for having specific jobs in the church – teaching school, for example.  But they are not paid for being deacons.

What does a deacon do?  At Mass, the deacon is always the one who proclaims the Gospel.  He may preach on occasion.  He is authorized to witness weddings, perform Baptisms, do Benedictions, preside at wakes, bless people and objects, etc.  A deacon is often asked to take a role in adult faith formation, home and hospital visitation, and promotion of service to the poorest of the poor.

In this diocese, there is a five-year formation process to prepare a man for the diaconate.  Part of it is academic training.  This training has neither the rigor nor the depth of training as that for the priesthood, but it is serious graduate-level work; typically a Master’s degree is awarded at the end of the studies.  In addition, the typical formation program is also full of spirituality orientation, “summer practicums”, and theological reflection of the path that the candidate is taking.

A married man can be ordained as a deacon, provided he is not headed for priesthood.  But a deacon cannot get married.   By the way, I believe that the wife of a deacon always gets a free pass into heaven.  That may not be good theology, but every deacon knows it is true.

The Sacrament of Holy Orders

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.
Those discerning God’s call to be a priest or deacon may speak with the pastor or call the Diocesan Vocation office at 712-255-7933.
 
PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR AN INCREASE IN VOCATIONS TO THE ORDAINED MINISTRY AND THE CONSECRATED LIFE:

Lord Jesus, as You once called the first disciples to make them fishers of men, let your sweet invitation continue to resound: Come! follow Me! 

Give young men and women the grace of responding quickly to Your voice.

Support your bishops, priests and consecrated people in their apostolic labor.

Grant perseverance to our seminarians and to all those who are carrying out the ideal of a life
totally consecrated to Your service. 

Awaken in our community a missionary eagerness.

Lord, SEND WORKERS TO YOUR HARVEST and do not allow humanity to be lost for the lack of pastors, missionaries and people dedicated to the cause of the Gospel.

Mary, Mother of the Church, the model of every vocation, help us to say "Yes" to the Lord Who calls us to cooperate in the divine plan of salvation.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
(Pope John Paul II)
  IN TALKING WITH YOUR CHILDREN, have you neglected to raise the call to Church ministry? The process of answering God’s call begins in childhood. Throughout adolescence and adulthood, the attitudes assumed in childhood begin to influence the course of one’s life. A vocation or a talent will not grow to fruition unless it is nurtured in childhood and adolescence by a parent.

Often children talk about what they want to be “when they grow up”: doctors, lawyers, athletes, nurses, movie stars, teachers, carpenters. They may talk about these roles, but do they ever talk about being a priest, sister or brother? You are the hand of God — encourage your children to consider Church ministry.

A STUDY COMMISSIONED by the Knights of Columbus revealed that 75% of Catholic young people who had seriously considered religious life felt they were never encouraged to pursue that goal. Do you know someone who would make a good priest or sister? Why not tell them so? Your encouragement may be all they need.

PRAYER IS A MOVING FORCE in vocation development. Prayer is effective; prayer is powerful; prayer is essential. Few are called to priesthood or religious life, but all are called to pray for vocations. “Lord, your Church is in need. Touch the hearts of many within our parish with the desire to serve you. Call forth from this community priests, men and women religious and deacons. Help us to live lives that will nurture childhood trust into adult commitment. May this parish be a source of hope and a source of ministers for your Church, your people and your world. Amen.
DID YOU KNOW that there are special seminaries for men entering the priesthood later in life, seminaries where students range from ages 25 to 60? Many of these men have thought about being a priest at one time or another but, for whatever reason, pushed the idea to the back of their minds. They are men who have made a career change to a second vocation, the priesthood. They’re ordinary people, men who have been electricians, teachers, barbers, policemen, social workers, farmers, businessmen, dentists. Some are widowers, even grandfathers. Diverse though their backgrounds may be, they now share one aim in life: to become a priest and serve God’s people. Could you be one of them?

A MISCONCEPTION AMONG some Catholics is that the priest has an ideal job: he works one day each week, Sunday. They forget that the other six days a week, the priest works long and hard behind the scenes: bringing communion to the sick and elderly, counseling troubled families, visiting school classes, preparing individuals for sacraments. Often the job is frustrating, exhausting and thankless, but always of vital importance. Take some time this week and express appreciation to your priests for the difficult work they do.

WHAT KINDS OF PEOPLE become priests, sisters or brothers? Are they uncommonly holy, unusually saint-like? No. They are people who make mistakes, people who aren’t afraid to be human while in God’s service. Are they people who can’t face the competition and cruelty of the “real” world? No. They are people who believe that through ministry they can immerse themselves in the world and make positive changes. Are they people who don’t relate well with other people? No. They are people who love others — people who find real satisfaction chatting with a 93-year-old parishioner, holding the hand of a cancer patient, listening to the troubles of a streetwise teen. They are people with the courage to touch lives, hearts and souls in a high-tech, unchurched world. Are you that kind of person?

HE HAS A JOB that puts him in touch with dozens of interesting people each week: He smiles over coffee while a 95- year-old woman reminisces about her first date in 1920; he discusses Marxism with a world-class philosopher after a lecture. Each day when he gets out of bed, he knows his work will make a difference. People knock on his door when they learn their spouses are sick, even dying. When they don’t have enough money to buy winter coats for their small children. Or when their parents have kicked them out of the house. He does his best to do something for them all, but he gets back even more. This is not a thankless job. Real appreciation is expressed in hugs, smiles and simple thank yous. His co-workers are well-trained and knowledgeable in their fields. And they are supportive, never competitive. They laugh a lot with him. Sometimes they cry with him.

But they are always caring. This job has brought out in him all sorts of hidden talents. He hadn’t known what a flair he had for public speaking; now, after every talk, there are pats on the back. He hadn’t known how much he liked children; now hundreds of kids look forward to his visiting their classroom. This is not a dead-end job. He is learning every day. He is a priest. Does his job sound good to you?