What is the Diaconate?
The diaconate is an order of clerics in the Roman Catholic Church. Established in the first century, the church primarily looks to the Acts of the Apostles 6: 1-6 as the establishment of the order of the diaconate and St. Stephen as one of the seven set aside to care of the widows and the poor. The permanent diaconate largely ceased to exist after the fifth century but was again re-established in 1967 by Paul VI.
A deacon is a man of integrity that enfleshes the servant mysteries of Christ. Established by the apostles in the infancy of the Church, deacons are set aside – ordained – to serve the needs of the local Church as they are discerned by the Bishop. The deacon is not ordained for any one parish, but is bound by his oath of fidelity to the Bishop and his successors to serve the Bishop as he discerns the needs of the Diocese through the will of the Holy Spirit.
In a very practical reality, deacons serve the Diocese in a variety of ways. All deacons are assigned to serve at a parish under the direction of the pastor or pastoral leader and do so largely on a volunteer basis. They often help in the formation of disciples in the OCIA program at parishes, visit the sick and the homebound, serve as hospital and prison chaplains, among a variety of other ministries. Some deacons are part-time or full-time employees at a parish or at the Diocese. All deacons are called to be humble servants of Christ’s love in order to give witness to and help the laity aspire to live their own diakonia – self-giving service.