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www.archindy.org June 13, 2003 Vol. XXXXII, No. 35 75¢ What type of man becomes a permanent deacon?

Editor’s note: For the past year, an arch- and evening activities as deacons with (Men who are interested in additional diocesan committee has been studying full-time secular jobs. However, 4 percent information on the permanent diaconate how to implement the permanent dia- of the deacons had salaried Church posi- are asked to contact the Vocations Office conate here. This series looks at the histo- tions, such as administrative posts on at the Archbishop O’Meara Catholic ry of the permanent diaconate and the chancery staffs; 3 percent were engaged Center, P.O. Box 1410, Indianapolis, IN role that deacons fulfill in the Church. in full-time, salaried positions in parishes; 46206.) and 6 percent worked full time in parishes By John F. Fink (30 hours or more) without being paid. Next week: The formation program for There were also 61 full-time and 39 part- the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. † Fourth of a five-part series What type of man is accepting the call to time parish administrators in the group of become a deacon? In the mid-1990s, the 11,000 deacons. U.S. bishops’ Committee for the Most of the deacons were married, Permanent Diaconate made a survey of although some were single and some the 11,000 deacons in the country. (Today were widowed. Church law stipulates that the number is about 13,350.) Here’s some a permanent deacon may not remarry if of what it learned: his wife dies after he has been ordained. An overwhelming 81 percent were Wives have an important role in the min- Caucasian, but 13 percent were Hispanic, istry of permanent deacons. The Church 4 percent were African-Americans and 2 requires the wife’s consent before her percent were of other ethnic backgrounds husband can be ordained a deacon, and (Native American, Asian, etc.). part of the training program for deacons Forty-five percent were college graduates, includes their wives. including 19 percent with advanced The results of the survey showed that 67 degrees, and another 27 percent had some percent of the deacons thought that their college education or an associate degree; ministry had enriched their home life, 65 26 percent were high school graduates percent said it improved their relationship and 2 percent had an eighth-grade educa- with their wives, and 48 percent said their tion or less. Sixty percent had profession- relationship with their children had al or managerial careers. improved. The survey found that the median age of The specific activities in which perma- deacons was 60, with 20 percent over 70. nent deacons are involved vary so much The official minimum age for ordination that a detailed job description applicable as a permanent deacon in the United to all is probably impossible. The bish- States is 35, so the minimum age for ops’ Committee on the Permanent admission to training programs is 31. In Diaconate says that the permanent deacon other dioceses, the usual maximum age is a man “with a special mission requiring for entering the program is 61. special relationships within the communi- Most permanent deacons in the United ty of God’s People.” States are ordained at about age 55. The It adds that the central elements of dia- reason older men are accepting the call is conal identity are the same no matter how that younger men are usually not yet the activities may vary. They are “the completely settled in their secular careers invitation of the Spirit, public expression and they have young children in their of and response to this call through ordi- families. This makes it more difficult for nation, sharing in the fraternal account- them to spare the time required of a per- ability for the realization on earth of manent deacon than it does for older men God’s kingdom, acceptance by the com- whose careers are more established and munity they are called to serve, and com- whose children are grown. plete commitment of self to service in By far, the majority of permanent deacons Christ’s name and that of the Church.” worked in parishes, combining weekend