As I approach the 46th anniversary of my ordination as a Permanent Deacon (May 27th, 1979) I am going to try to give you insights into what this ministry is with the hope that there might be someone out there who is curious and will start to look further into it. Deacons are needed in the church. Deacons are not mini priests but are a separate ministry in the church.

When I began my formation in September of 1975 until I completed it in June 1979, a few weeks after ordination, a banner hung on the wall of the room in which we gathered for prayer, instruction and teaching that read: “The only edition of the Gospel most people are ever likely to see is You.” I’ve taken that to heart.

Let’s take a look at what a Deacon is. There are 2 kinds of deacons, transitory deacons on their way to priesthood and permanent deacons who will live out their lives in service to the church through service to its people. Permanent Deacons must be a minimum of 35 years of age and married at least 10 years or have taken a vow of celibacy at the time of ordination. Most every diocese that welcomes Deacons (Permanent Deacons) has set up a formation program although some use the services of the formation program of a neighbouring Diocese. Officially, Deacons retire at age 75 but with the permission of their Pastors or the Bishop, they can continue to serve the people. The wives of married Deacons study in the formation program along with their husbands and they must give their consent to his ordination

Deacons go almost as far back as the early days of the Church.  In the 6th chapter of The Acts of the Apostles in the Bible men of good reputation were chosen to assist in caring for the people and thereby assist the Apostles, the Bishops, through their works so that the Apostles could spend more time at prayer and in teaching.  Stephen was the first person chosen to be a Deacon.  He was 1 of 7 who are mentioned in Acts 6:2 – 6.  As the church developed, the ministry of the Deacon was used less and less.  Under Vatican II that whole ministry as an extension of the Bishop was more strongly emphasized and the ministry was restored to its original importance.  This happened in 1972.

Deacons are people who live among you, maybe even work in similar jobs to you and most often have spouses and families. They could be your neighbour. They are people of prayer who live a life of caring for others, their family plus a segment of people in the larger community. In this area there are Permanent Deacons serving in the prisons, nursing homes, visiting the sick and shut-ins, in Catholic Charities and in many other places where they can be of service to the poor, the homeless, the shut-ins and the missions through organizations like Caritas. A permanent deacon was responsible for starting the Daily TV Mass. There is a deacon in Toronto who ministers on the streets with the homeless. Deacons are in cities and towns quietly carrying on services of many kinds in the hours aside from taking care of the work that supports their families, and never forgetting about their families.

Every deacon has a parish base from which he operates and some make that visible by taking on the deacon’s role at mass, particularly on weekends and during special celebrations. Deacons are not mini priests but they are a separate ministry that assists the Bishop in supporting the needs of the people.

In conclusion, Deacons are servants of the church to the people and as they do that, they are serving the Bishop of a Diocese/Archdiocese from whom they receive their mandate. By extension, they also serve the priests in whose parishes their ministries are carried out.  As Jesus went out to the sick, the infirm, the marginalized in our society, so do Deacons. He, the Deacon, brings the love of God, the love of Jesus with him as he goes.

Deacon Ray