What’s a Deacon

Deacon Lee Hunt

 

A deacon is neither a layman nor a priest—he is a member of the clergy. Deacons are ordained for service in transmission of the Word, celebration of the sacraments, and especially in the community’s love and justice.

 

In the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, a man must undergo four years of theological, pastoral, and spiritual formation before the archbishop decides if he should be ordained. The first year is an aspirancy period during which the man decides if he wants to become a deacon and during which the Church decides if he should continue.

 

The Permanent Diaconate Board requires a letter of recommendation from the pastor of the man’s parish. The Board also requires that a man take a psychological exam and be interviewed. Courses in the archdiocesan Pastoral Ministry Program are necessary and paid for by the Archdiocese.

 

If a man is married, his wife must take most of the same studies that he does. Therefore, applying to the permanent diaconate is a joint decision for a married couple. Both must fill out applications and the wife must give written consent for her husband’s ordination. Should a deacon become widowed, he may not enter a new marriage, except in special circumstances

 

A deacon is already doing servant things before he is ordained. Deacon talent is present at the beginning of training, or it will never be there. At ordination, the Church recognizes the person’s charism for diaconia —the Greek word for service. The Church publicizes its recognition of the new deacon as one who is a symbol in the world of the presence of Jesus, grace, and of God. At the same time, the deacon becomes ordained into a very special diaconia , a ministry of calling and enabling others in the Church to be servants too.

 

The ministry of love and social justice can include serving abused children, aged, battered women, bereaved, blind, deaf, divorced, drug addicts, dying, handicapped, homeless, prisoners, etc.

 

The ministry of the Word involves proclaiming the Gospel at the liturgy, preaching, catechetical instruction, teaching, counseling, giving retreats, outreach to alienated Catholics, parish renewal programs, etc.

 

One ministry of the liturgy is assisting with the Eucharist. Other ministries are baptizing, witnessing marriages, bringing Viaticum to the dying, presiding over wakes,  funerals and burials, the Liturgy of the Hours, and exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. A deacon can perform blessings of such things as people, homes, rosaries, etc.

 

The diaconate was restored by the Second Vatican Council as a permanent ministry. The first permanent  deacons in the United States were ordained in 1971. As of 2003, there were about 15,000 in the United States.

 

After ordination, the archbishop assigns a deacon to a place somewhere near his home. If this is in a parish, the pastor and deacon determine the service ministry that a deacon will perform.