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The Role of the Deacon

Deacons are called to serve. The very word "deacon" is taken from the Greek word diakonia, meaning service.  During the Church's first five centuries, this ministry flourished everywhere. But for various reasons, the order declined in the West as a distinct rank of clerical service, and eventually disappeared. It was relegated to a "transitional" order given to candidates on their way to priestly ordination.  The Council of Trent (1545-63) called for the restoration of the permanent diaconate for the entire Church.  But it was not until the Second Vatican Council, four centuries later, that this direction was implemented.  The Catholic Church restored this sacred order as a permanent way of serving the Church (and not just a transitional order for men on the way to priesthood) in the Latin Rite. So, while students for the priesthood are still ordained transitional deacons prior to their ordination as priests, there are more than 13,000 deacons in the United States alone who minister in this Order permanently. There is no difference in the sacramental sign or the functions between these so-called "transitional" and "permanent” deacons.

In the Eastern Catholic Church, however, the diaconate remained a part of the permanent rank of sacred orders without interruption from the time of the Apostles until now.  It has a clearly defined place in the life of the Eastern Catholic Churches.  We can learn much from our Eastern Catholic brethren as we develop the life and ministry of deacons in the Western Church as an order of Clergy ordained unto service, in the same way our priests work tirelessly for the glory of God through service to His People.

The permanent deacon is ordained to the first rank of sacred orders, not to the priesthood or the episcopacy (term used for a bishop).  He is no longer a layman, but a member of the clergy. Like other clerics, the deacon participates in the threefold ministry of Jesus Christ; the "diaconia of the liturgy, the word, and of charity.” He represents “Christ the Servant” in his vocation.

What exactly does a permanent deacon do?

Permanent deacons have a number of roles and responsibilities within the liturgy or Mass. They include calling forth the people’s response in the penitential rite, proclaiming the Gospel, preaching the Homily, voicing the general intercessions (or petitions), assisting the celebrant in receiving the Eucharistic gifts, preparing the chalice, assisting the priest during the Eucharistic prayer by elevating the cup, calling on the faithful to exchange a sign of peace, serving as an ordinary minister of the Eucharist, purifying the vessels after communion, and dismissing the people at the conclusion of the Mass.

In a most meaningful and expressive action, which is largely unnoticed because it is done in silence, the deacon prepares the cup for the eucharistic sacrifice.  As he pours a drop of water into the wine, he prays not only for himself, but for the people as well:  “By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity”.  The symbolism of the mingling of the few drops of ordinary water with the rich and exhilarating wine that will become the blood of Christ speaks of the promised transformation to be brought about in us through the sacrament and the working of the Holy Spirit.

Customs have developed which reflect the deacon's role as distinct from both priest and lay minister. For instance, proper liturgical dress for a deacon is an alb, a cincture, a diaconal stole and a dalmatic.  You can recognize a deacon because his stole is worn diagonally across his chest, rather than hanging down from the neck like a priest wears it.

The Role of Deacon outside of Sunday Mass

Along with assisting the priest at Sunday Eucharist, deacons are permitted to assist the Pastor of a parish by Baptizing and officiating at the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. They may also preside at Funeral services (although not at a Funeral Mass) and prayer services including Liturgy of the Word services, morning prayer, and evening prayer (also known as vespers). Deacons may administer viaticum to the sick, and lead Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest.

There are a number of things that deacons cannot do (they are reserved to priests):

With the exception of celebrating Mass, absolving sins and anointing the sick, all of which are reserved to priests, permanent deacons are given authority by the bishop, with consent of the pastors with whom they minister, for a full range of liturgical functions which sometimes may appear indistinguishable from those of the priests.

The Role of Deacon outside of the Liturgy

The roles of permanent deacons outside of the liturgy vary greatly, depending upon the needs of the parish(es) in which they serve. These include:

Most permanent deacons are not paid for their service and volunteer their time out of love for God and the Church.   Permanent deacons support themselves just like you and I – through a regular job or retirement savings.  In the Diocese of San Jose, permanent deacons are asked to serve a minimum of 10 hours per week without compensation.

A deacon’s responsibilities may include preaching once a month at Sunday masses, administering the Sacrament of Baptism, witnessing marriages as requested, presiding at Funeral Vigils, developing and maintaining a Home Bound ministry, promoting Catholic Social Teaching, participating in our St. Vincent de Paul ministry as Spiritual Advisor, and leading the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises retreat. As you can see, this is not a vocation for the faint of heart!

The Qualities of a Deacon

Because they receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders, deacons are sent by Christ to serve God's people. They are called to do so out of the depths of an interior life centered in the Eucharist, and fueled by a life of prayer, which proceeds into action. Like other clerics, they recite the Divine Office and cultivate the habit of penance.

Since most permanent deacons are married and have children, they are called to demonstrate the grace of the Sacrament of Marriage and the holiness of a consecrated family life. They are called to “give clear witness to the sanctity of marriage and family."  In fact, the Church will not ordain the man unless his wife gives her consent in writing.  A married man who is ordained a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church is expected to honor his first commitment to the sacrament of marriage, with the Church's blessing. 

In addition to this important witness, the deacon is distinct in his secular vocation. Often engaged in works of social justice or charity, he is a clergyman in the midst of the secular world. He goes from the altar to the world in a prophetic way, bringing Christ to those for whom He gave His life- and continues to reach out to -through His Body on earth, the Church.  

Since he usually pursues secular work, the deacon is not "obliged” to wear clerical garb as are transitional deacons or priests.  But it is a deacon’s right to wear the clerical collar if he so chooses.  In our diocese, most deacons choose not to wear the Roman collar to avoid confusing the laity.

In summary, the deacon is sometimes described as a bridge between the laity from whose ranks he comes and the clergy of which he is now a part. From the outset of his formation, the deacon is formed to be an animator of others, lay men and women, that they may become increasingly involved in this mission of the Church.

Deacon John Vũ Ngọc Hiến