Holy Orders: Permanent Diaconate
The first of the Orders is Diaconate. There are two types of Diaconate, the transitional
diaconate which is one of the steps leading to priesthood and the Permanent diaconate.
We will only be referring to the Permanent Diaconate here. Due to the fact that most of
the selection, preparation, and training is done through the Diocesan Vocations Office,
there will only be an overview presented here. For further information, contact the
Vocation Department at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese. The Deacon is a member of
the clergy and can do many things that a priest can do: Perform baptisms, bless houses,
articles, and persons, celebrate marriages outside Mass, celebrate funerals outside Mass
including graveside services, preach homilies at Masses and other services, act as an
Ordinary Minister of the Eucharist, Display the host and perform benediction at holy hours,
bless holy water. He is a valuable assistant to the priest and community but with his own
role in ministry.
1. Pre-requisites to applying for the Permanent Diaconate
a. Must have received the Sacraments of Initiation [Baptism, Eucharist, and
Confirmation]
b. If married, should be married by the Church and have the consent of his wife; if
single, must understand that he will have to make a promise of celibacy for the
rest of his life.
c. Should form a relationship with the pastor of the parish since the pastor will be
required to write a letter of testimonial as to the fitness of the candidate and
cannot do so unless he knows the candidate.
d. Should be involved in various ministries in the parish, especially with a view
toward service (the meaning of Diakonia]. Some of these may include liturgical
ministry [Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, Lector, Musician, Sacristan,
Usher, Greeter, etc.], Catechetical Ministry [Religious Education teacher, Director
of Religious Education, Catechist assistant, etc.], Social Justice Ministry [Ministry
to the Poor, the sick, Jail ministry, outreach ministries, ministry to people from
other countries, legal aid, etc.], and/or Evangelization ministry.
e. Must practice a normal faith life to include regular participation in the Mass,
regular use of the Sacrament of Penance, personal prayer life, and an annual
retreat.
f. Must practice and hold views consistent with Catholic Church teaching such as in
the area of Right to Life, lead a good moral life so as not to give scandal to the
faith, etc.
g. Should be aware and knowledgeable about the parish life of the Church such as in
the activities listed in the bulletin, participation or aid to Parish and Finance
Councils, or being open to be called for different types of help in which he has
gifts and talents.
h. Should be involved in continuing education such as in Adult Formation Classes,
other diocesan courses, etc. to prepare for the rigors of philosophical and
theological studies required in the preparation toward Diaconate.
i. Should make a special effort to form community especially with the ordained
deacons of the parish and their families and perhaps any seminarians or
candidates to the diaconate or priesthood. These communities are diocesan in
nature and serve throughout the diocese not just in the parish.
2. Applying for the Permanent Diaconate
a. The first step should be communication with the pastor of interest in the
diaconate. The pastor will usually attempt to aid the person in some process
of discernment as well as check the progress of being a good candidate. [See
#1 above]
b. The next step would be to contact the Vocations Office of the Diocese. They
will normally refer you to some of the vocation programs already in process
for both the diaconate and the priesthood. You will be asked to participate in
psychological testing on a regular basis, meet with the vocation director and
possibly the bishop in groups or individually. The diocese will guide you from
here. [See Diocesan website for more information]
c. Some of the paperwork that you will need to gather may include:
– Certified Birth Certificate
– Copy of Baptism Certificate with notations [If any notations of Eucharist
– Copy of Marriage License and Certificate of Sacrament of marriage if
– Copy of High School, College, or any other transcripts for education
– Letter of Recommendation from Pastor and others who can attest to your
– Name and address, phone number of your spiritual director if you have
– Indications of any retreats attended
– Any certificates from Adult Formation Courses
– Letter or certificate stating that you have met all requirements for Ethics
– Statement of your wife that she is aware and supportive of your desire to
and Confirmation are missing, a copy of the certificates for these
sacraments as well as contacting the parish of baptism with copies of
certificates of the missing sacraments]
applicable
already received.
moral and spiritual character when requested by the diocese.
one
and Integrity in Ministry
Holy Orders: Priesthood
Priesthood or the Presbyterate is the second Holy Order and has a share in the
Episcopacy [the Bishop]. As the bishop is to the diocese, the pastor is to the parish.
Any priest can be named a pastor of a parish with full administration responsibility.
The priesthood originated as a way to make the ministry of the bishop available to the
entire local diocese. Therefore, in union and obedient to the bishop, the pastor and all
priests associated make all the sacramental, liturgical, catechetical, and social justice
ministries available in all parishes. In addition to all that the deacon can do, a priest
can confect the Eucharist [change the host and wine into the body and blood of
Christ], give absolution in the Sacrament of Penance, celebrate the Sacrament of
Anointing of the Sick, represent the parish in all deanery and diocesan meetings of
clergy, as pastor, make all final administrative decisions in the parish ensuring that
they are in line with Church teaching, Canon Law, and Diocesan Directives, and direct
and guide all ministry in the parish.
1. Pre-Requisites for Priesthood [Basically the same as Diaconate. See B1 above.
2. Process is basically the same as for the Permanent Diaconate. See B2 above.
enter the permanent diaconate program.
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