The Ministry of the Deacon

SsPeterandPaul | December 5, 2017 | Parish Newsletter | No Comments

What Is the Ministry of The Deacon?

The call to the Order of Deacon is a call to a ministry of service. The service ministry of a deacon may take many forms. Most deacons serve in parish ministry, primarily working with the priest and parish staff in facilitating lay ministry. Like the priest, the deacon should call others to ministry by his witness and his example. As a facilitator of ministry, his task is to work with the pastor and parish staff in identifying areas of need. His task then is to train lay men and women to perform the ministry and, when the lay team is ready to take over, the deacon moves on to another area of need to repeat the process.

The diaconate was restored as a permanent ministry by Pope Paul VI, on June 18, 1967, upon the recommendation of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council.

Answers to Common Questions

Q: What is the difference between a priest and a deacon?

A: The call to be deacon is to serve. The symbol of the ministry of the deacon is the basin and the towel, the items Jesus used when he washed the feet of the apostles, illustrating how we are called to love and serve others.

The deacon brings the needs of the marginalized the poor, the imprisoned, the sick and disabled to the altar. He sees that they are not forgotten or excluded from the liturgical and communal life of the parish. The deacon can preside at baptisms, weddings and funerals when there is no Mass.

The role of the priest is to help the members of his parish grow spiritually, leading them in ways to better love God and neighbour. Only the priest can preside at Mass and consecrate the Eucharist, hear confessions, have authority to forgive sins, anoint the sick and the dying, and, with delegation from the Bishop, confirm.

The Role of the Deacon

Areas of ministries

Ministry of Charity – dedicated to works of Charity