ALL ABOUT MINISTRY OF DEACONS

In the session One Church with Diverse Roles we studied that there are three degrees of Holy Orders. Just what is the role of the deacon in the church? Why don’t all parishes have permanent deacons to assist the pastor, especially for a priest with several parishes?

The key scriptural text is in Acts of the Apostles, chapter 6:
At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

The history of liturgical and administrative roles or positions in the church is complicated. In the Western Church the term “cleric” referred to those who were part of the hierarchical structure of the church and held defined sacramental, administrative or teaching roles. Before Vatican II, clerics belonged to the minor orders or major orders, with only those in the major orders having a sacramental character. One entered the clerical state with tonsure but joined the ranks of the ordained as a sub-deacon.

Since New Testament times there have been deacons who never got ordained as priests. However, for most of the Latin or Roman Rite Church sub-deacon, deacon and other “minor” orders were primarily for those who were going to be priests. Most of the time deacons were called “transitional.”
Reforms following the Second Vatican Council suppressed the minor orders and created lay ministries of reader and acolyte. Three degrees of Holy Orders were designated as deacon, priest, and bishop. The reforms also opened the way to deacons who would not go on to be ordained priests, who were clerics and who also could be married. This became the permanent diaconate. The diocese of Jefferson City was very active in beginning a diaconate program and ordained the first classes in the 70s.

Deacons generally are ordained to serve in their local parishes. Several are pastoral administrators like Deacon Bob Smerek for Osage Bend, and Deacon Bob DePyper for Russellville. Many deacons have jobs in the secular world but do sacramental ministry in their local parish. Some deacons are employed by the diocese: Deacon Joe Braddock is the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of the diocese, and Deacon Ray Purvis is the coordinator of the Diaconate Formation Office.

All the faithful can lead prayer services, be catechists, and fulfill administrative functions in the parish, but deacons fulfill these roles in with a special sacramental grace that comes with holy orders. The distinctive character of the diaconate is such that deacons have defined liturgical roles in the sacramental and prayer life of the church. There are special duties at the Eucharist that are properly fulfilled by deacons, such as proclaiming the Gospel, guiding the people in their responses (penitential rite, sign of peace, dismissal) and assisting the priest at the altar.

While anyone may baptize in an emergency, deacons can be assigned or designated as the ordinary ministers of baptism. They can also be the official witnesses at marriages as well as give homilies at the Eucharist. There are some priestly roles that deacons do not assume: presiding at the Eucharist, hearing confessions, anointing the sick, being delegated by the Bishop to confirm. As clerics, they are bound to the duty of praying Liturgy of the hours each day; in this way they provide a spiritual grace to the community through their prayer life.

As a priest, I have always enjoyed working with deacons in my ministry and have been impressed with their love of Christ, their enthusiasm for the Church, and their desire to lead others to a closer relationship with God