: Diaconate - Who Is a Deacon? :
Formation to Permanent Diaconate
"The deacon's ministry is meant to be a 'driving force' for the Church's ministry of service. By ordination the deacon is configured to Christ in his servant role and is meant to be a living sign of the servanthood of his Church."
- Pope John Paul II
Who is a Deacon?
- A Deacon is an ordained minister called to be a sign of Christ the Servant in the Church and in the World.
- His unique ministry is collaborative and fraternal in nature. He is to be the servant and co-worker of all God's People - Bishop, Priest and Lay - in the exercise of the Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world.
- He is usually a married man with a family and a secular job or profession. Through these commitments he serves as a link between the Church and the World.
What does a Deacon do?
- The Deacon's ministry is traditionally described as service in three areas: Word, Liturgy and Charity. Each Deacon's ministry is different depending on his gifts, experience and availability.
- A Deacon may be engaged in many forms of ministries within the diocese: pastoral care in hospitals or nursing homes, prison ministry, ministries of Charity, justice and social service especially, to those who are deprived and marginalized.
- Within his parish community, a Deacon may be involved in a variety of tasks: sacramental preparation, adult education, visiting the sick, preaching and assisting the priest on Sunday Eucharist, presiding at Baptisms, weddings and funerals, outreach to inactive Catholics, and enable, above all, in the parish's ministries of Charity.
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