Deacon Information Page

General Information

A deacon is a man called from his community to serve that community. He must be at least 35 years old. If married, he must be in a stable marriage. The man who is called to be a deacon should already be living a diaconal life-style. That is, he should already be active both in ministry in the Church and service to the larger community. He will require the permission of his wife. Concern should be given to the number of hours required for formation. In the Diocese of Orange this is currently four years, two nights per week plus one Sunday a month for spiritual formation and development. There are also three one-year field ministry commitments which require a minimum of 30 hours of service, not including any training required for this area of ministry.

What is a deacon?

A deacon is a clergyman who assists the bishop and priests. He is ordained, not to the priesthood but to service. He has a three-fold role of service:

  • Charity in which he is of service to the community.
  • Word in which he proclaims the Gospel and preaches.
  • Liturgy in which he assists at Mass, is an ordinary minister of the Eucharist and baptism, witnesses marriages, leads the community in prayer, especially funeral services and the Liturgy of the Hours.

The deacon finds his identity not in what he does, but in who he is. Deacons minister in many different settings from the traditional parish to prisons, hospitals, convalescent homes, juvenile detention centers, shelters for the homeless or the abused, soup kitchens, police departments, and corporations. Regardless of where a deacon finds himself, it is there that he serves.

Deacons are the eyes, ears, hands, arms and feet of the bishop. Ordained by the bishop, they serve as the bishop directs. Usually this is in a parish setting, but it could be anywhere the bishop feels a need. Having received the same sacrament of Holy Orders that a priest or bishop receives, the deacon works in harmony with the priests and the bishop to build up the Kingdom of God.

How does one become a deacon?

Actually, this is not a simple question. One either is a deacon or one is not. The Church does not "make" deacons, but simply proclaims that some men are deacons and recognizes and strengthens that role of service with the sacrament of Holy Orders.

To test your own call, there is a discernment process that takes place. You must first discern a call to the diaconate. Then, you submit yourself to the diocese for evaluation by applying. You can contact the deacon director for information about this process. In the Diocese of Orange you must be recommended by your parish community, your local priest or a deacon.

If accepted into the formation process, you will spend four years (this seems to be about the average for the United States, although some programs are as short as three years and others as long as five years) studying and continuing the discernment process. Studies will generally included classes in:

  • Theology
  • Scripture
  • Canon Law
  • Church History
  • Homiletics
  • Pastoral Counseling
  • Ministry
  • Liturgy

Along with the classes will come practical experience in the form of field ministry. This helps you to get a better feel for the types of service that a deacon may be called upon to perform, and it also helps you to grow and stretch.

During the formation process you will continue to do your own discernment while the formation team is doing the same. In the Diocese of Orange you will be assigned a mentor couple (a deacon and his wife) who will walk with you during the entire formation process. Your mentor will help you to discern your call, will assist you in times of doubt, and will celebrate the stages of this journey. He will be available to you for phone calls, support, and usually some in-person get-togethers. This whole period is filled with opportunities for spiritual and intellectual growth. However, this growth cannot take place isolated from the community. You will continue to be visible in your community and, with the support of your local priests and other deacons, will begin to take on roles that are appropriate for one in formation.

Life as a deacon

There is, indeed, life after formation. Once a man has been ordained a deacon he is assigned to a particular community for service. In most dioceses in the United States the deacon will sign a "service contract" which simply lays out the expectations that the deacon and his supervisor (usually the local pastor) have for one another.

Service as a deacon can take on broad meanings. One quickly finds that whatever one does it is diaconal service! As deacons we bring our ministry to the workplace. We bring the presence of Jesus to the markets where we shop, to the places where we play, to our families! Most bishops seem to love having deacons serve in marriage formation programs. But there are so many areas of service outside the parish that we have more opportunities than we could ever take advantage of.

And, of course, we must not forget our Liturgical role. This role is not the primary focus of our lives as deacons, but is secondary. It is important that the community see us ministering from the altar vested as a deacon, but this liturgical role flows out of and is a result of our other roles of charity and service to the community.

Links to more material on the Diaconate:

If you would like to receive more information about the diaconate, or to have questions answered, please feel free to E-mail me by clicking on my name.

Deacon Ed