the diaconate

Holy Orders is the sacrament by which bishops, priests, and deacons are ordained and receive the power and grace to perform their sacred duties. All three have been present since Jesus founded the Church. (see Luke 22:19-20, John 13:5, 12-15-26, Acts 1:15 an Acts 6:6).

THE ROLE OF DEACONS (From the Greek ‘dia-konos’ that means ‘servant’. Unlike a Bishop or a Priest who receives the mission and faculty (‘the sacred power’) through ordination to act in persona Christi Capitis (in the person of Christ, the head), Deacons share in Christ’s mission and grace in a special way; as in the person of Christ, the servant, “In Persona Christi Servi.”

The Sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint that cannot be removed and configures them to Christ, who made himself the “deacon” or servant of all. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, par 1570). 

Deacons serve people of God through participating in their local Bishop’s ministry; services, or 'diaconias' of liturgy, word, and charity, in communion with the bishop and his presbyterate”. Through ordination, deacons can baptize, witness marriages, perform funeral and burial services outside of Mass, and preach the sermon during the Mass. They also minister in their respective communities and are obligated to pray the Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office every day.

PERMANENT & TRANSITIONAL DEACONS

The diaconate is the first of the three holy orders. In the context of formation and for structural purposes, the Church distinguishes deacons as “permanent and transitional.” Men whose calling is to be a deacon (married or not) are usually called permanent deacons. Unmarried men whose vocation is to be priests will be ordained deacon and then be ordained priests after a suitable period of time. They are usually called “transitional deacons”. However, the one who goes on to be a priest or even bishop will still remain permanently a deacon by virtue of Holy Orders.