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WHO IS a DEACON? Are Often Explored at a Personal Level and Usually Begin with Seeking Information About the Diaco- WHAT ARE THESE VARIOUS Nate and Formation

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THE VOCATION TO THE DIACONATE The first stirrings of a vocation to the diaconate WHO IS A DEACON? are often explored at a personal level and usually begin with seeking information about the diaco- WHAT ARE THESE VARIOUS nate and formation. Here, an individual initially MINISTRIES OF A DEACON? reflects upon the nature of his perceived call. Pri- macy must be given at this time to the spiritual dimension, and central to this is spiritual guid- All ordained ministers in the Church are called ance. “Because every spiritual journey is personal to functions of Word, Sacrament, and Charity, and individual, it requires personal guidance.” but bishops, presbyters and deacons exercise The pastor and others in the parish staff are par- these functions in various ways. As ministers of ticular resources at this time. the Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach, and teach in the name of the Church. As minis- As the majority of those who inquire about the diaconate are married, they should be directed to ters of Sacrament, deacons baptize, lead the pay particular attention to discussing the possible faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct vocation with their wives and families. The initial wake and funeral services. As ministers of Char- information and conversations with their pastor ity, deacons are leaders in identifying the needs and others should assist and encourage these dis- of others, then marshaling the Church's re- cussions. For a married man, the support and sources to meet those needs. Deacons are also consent of his wife is required. Therefore, both dedicated to eliminating the injustices or inequi- spouses need to make sure that support and con- A deacon is an ordained minister of the ties that cause such needs. But no matter what sent, even at this early stage of discernment, arise Catholic Church. There are three groups, specific functions a deacon performs, they flow from an informed understanding. Many regions or "orders," of ordained ministers in the from his sacramental identity. In other words, it and cultures also place emphasis on the participa- is not only WHAT a deacon does, but WHO a tion of the extended family. This, too, is an im- Church: bishops, presbyters and deacons. portant resource for discernment. deacon is, that is important. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental -NATIONAL DIRECTORY for the Formation, Minis- sign to the Church and to the world of -USCCB : Frequently Asked Questions try and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States About Deacons Christ, who came "to serve and not to be If you are interested served." The entire Church is called by in learning more about the Permanent Christ to serve, and the deacon, in virtue Diaconate, talk to of his sacramental ordination and through your Pastor, or his various ministries, is to be a servant in contact the Office of Deacon a servant-Church. Formation, Diocese of San Jose 1150 N 1st Street, Suite 100, San Jose CA 95112 -USCCB : Frequently Asked Questions About Deacons (408) 983-0156 THE ORIGINS OF THE DIACONATE In the middle ages, the Catholic Church ceased “In her whole being and in all her members, the to ordain permanent deacons and made the diac- Church is sent to announce, bear witness, make onate a transitional order prior to being ordained present, and spread the mystery of the commun- a priest. However a group of priests who had ion of the Holy Trinity.” This “missionary man- been imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp in date” is the Church’s sacred rite and obligation. the late 1940s seriously thought about and were Through the proclamation of God’s word, in convinced that there was a need to revive the sacramental celebrations, and in the response to role of the permanent diaconate as it was origi- the needs of others, especially in her ministry of nally envisioned. This was the role of bringing charity and justice, “the Church is Christ’s instru- the gospel and ministry of service into prisons, ment…”the universal sacrament of salvation.” hospitals, and to the marginalized members of By which Christ is “at once manifesting and actu- We learn from the Acts of the Apostles and the society. This group of priests petitioned the Pope alizing the mystery of God’s love for men.” Letters of St. Paul that the early Christian commu- to restore the ordained ministry of the perma- nities had two orders: the episcopate, who were nent deacon. Pope Paul VI formally implement- “The Sacred Order of Deacons is to be “a driving force the order of bishops, and the diaconate. The pres- ed the renewal of the permanent diaconate fol- for the Church’s service or diakonia toward the local byterate or order of priests developed later when lowing the closing of the Second Vatican Coun- Christian communities, and as a sign or sacrament of the communities became too large for a bishop to cil. In his apostolic letter “Sacrum Diaconatus the Lord Christ himself, who ‘came not to be served be personally present. The Acts of the Apostles Ordinem”, he reestablished the Order of Deacons but to serve’”. narrates the story of seven men chosen by the as a permanent ministry in the Catholic Church. apostles to serve the welfare needs of the local The deacon leads the community to reflect on community of believers and to publicly bear wit- their communion and mission in Jesus Christ, ness to the gospel. especially impelling the community of believers to live lives of service. Because the deacon sacra- At that time, as the number of disciples con- mentalizes service, he should proclaim the word tinued to grow, the Hellenists complained in such a way that he first witnesses its empower- against the Hebrews because their widows ment in his own life. Then he can effectively were being neglected in the daily distribu- challenge others to practice the Church’s minis- tion. So the Twelve called together the com- try of charity and justice in the social environ- munity of the disciples and said, “It is not ments in which people live their baptismal voca- right for us to neglect the word of God to serve THE DIACONATE IN THE SECOND tion. By his own faithful practice of the spiritual at table. Brothers, select from among you sev- VATICAN COUNCIL and corporal works of mercy, the deacon “by en reputable men, filled with the Spirit and One of the great legacies of the Second Vatican word and example…should work so that all the wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, Council was its renewal and encouragement of faithful, in imitation of Christ, may place them- whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer the order of deacons throughout the entire Cath- selves at the constant service of their brothers and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal olic Church. The Council’s decisions on the diac- and sisters.” was acceptable to the whole community, so onate flowed out of the bishops’ discussions on they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith the sacramental nature of the Church.. -NATIONAL DIRECTORY for the Formation, Min- and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, istry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of States Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They present- ed these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. - Acts 6:1-6 .
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