The Importance of Deacons in the Catholic Church
Published July 29, 2020
The deacon is easily the most misunderstood role in the Catholic church. Even regular church-goers often confuse the responsibilities of a deacon with those of a priest. People often refer to deacons as “mini-priests,” not knowing that they serve different purposes. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gives us a pretty encapsulating description of who deacons are.
“A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. There are three groups, or “orders,” of ordained ministers in the Church: bishops, presbyters, and deacons. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came ‘to serve and not to be served.’ The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the deacon, in virtue of his sacramental ordination and through his various ministries, is to be a servant in a servant-Church.“
What does the bible say about deacons?
According to Bible Gateway, three verses talk about deacons. The most noteworthy description is from 1 Timothy 3:8-13. In this verse, it mentions the qualities a deacon should have. They should be worthy of respect, not overly indulgent in wine, and honest people. They must also be faithful with unwavering moral standing.
In Acts 6:1-6, it depicts the story of the selection of the seven first deacons. It was during this time that the apostles found themselves swamped with administrative work. However, they couldn’t hand these responsibilities off to just anyone. The ones responsible for carrying out these tasks were representatives of the church. Therefore, the apostles had to select men with good reputations, wisdom, and a manifestation of spiritual power. These seven deacons were Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch.
What exactly are a deacon’s responsibilities?
There are generally two categories of deacons: transitional and permanent.
Transitional deacons are seminarians, students in the last phase of training to become a Catholic priest. After going through one full year of being a deacon, they will get ordained priests by a bishop.
Permanent deacons are notably different. They’re men, ordained to an office in the Catholic church. Initially, these men have no desire to advance to the priesthood. However, they could still decide later on that they want to join the presbytery. A deacon can be single or married at the time of ordination. One stipulation for the single man is that they cannot marry after ordination.
Technically speaking, deacons can do many things that priests do. The following are the activities that the deacon generally can do:
- Baptize
- Witness marriages
- Perform funeral and burial services outside of the Eucharist
- Distribute Holy Communion
- Preach the homily
- Visit the sick
- Teach the faith
- Provide counsel for couples and individuals
- Work on parish committees
- Advise and assist pastors
However, these are some activities the deacon cannot do that priests do:
- Consecrate the Eucharist
- Hear confession
- Administer sacraments of Confirmation and Anointing the Sick
Do Catholic deacons get paid?
Deacons do not get paid for being deacons. However, they can hold positions in the church and get paid for their work there. In the case of permanent deacons, they can have a separate secular job to support themselves and their families.
What are the basic requirements to become a deacon?
- Age – you must be at least 35 years old at the time of ordination
- Religion – Roman Catholic
- Civil Status – single or married to only one wife
Besides these technical requirements, a man who wants to become a deacon must be called to service by the Holy Spirit. He must possess ministerial skills of being relatable, speaking well, and being a suitable spiritual leader.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the Lay Cistercians blog and a devoted Catholic. She works hard to ensure her work uses accurate facts by cross checking reputable sources.
