What is diaconal ministry like in the early years of the 21st century?
Deacons are ordained to ministry of the Word, the Altar and Service. Ministry of the Word and Altar are consistent for all deacons. However, the ministry of service varies, depending on the needs of the community to which the deacon is called to minister.
Ministry of the Word refers to the deacon’s proclamation of the Gospel at Mass and any preaching that he does in that context. It also refers to any teaching role that he may be called on to fulfill. So, leading a Bible study, teaching a course in Scripture or theology, or even writing Along the Way articles for the Diocesan newspaper are all forms of the diaconal ministry of the Word.
The deacon has specific roles within the context of the Mass and may preside at a variety of sacramental celebrations and para-liturgical celebrations. These are all expressions of his ministry of the Altar. Whenever he leads the community in prayer, presides at a communion service, celebrates a sacrament for which he is an approved minister or assists the priest or bishop in that role, he is fulfilling his ministry of the Altar.
The ministry of Service takes in almost everything else. In many Dioceses, including the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, a permanent deacon is assigned to two broad areas of service ministry; in a parish context and in a broader diocesan context.
In the parish context the deacon us usually assigned as a Deacon Assistant in a parish or parish cluster. In this context the deacon and his pastor work out a division of labor regarding parish responsibilities. This is usually done based on the skills and talents the deacon brings with him. Typically, the deacon will be assigned to assist at Mass regularly and preach occasionally, as well as help with weddings, house blessings, wakes and funerals. The deacon may be assigned to teach adult education classes, RCIA or sacramental preparation classes, such as pre-Cana, confirmation preparation or baptism preparation classes. Of course, the deacon may be asked to visit and take Holy Communion to the sick or shut-ins on First Friday and at other times. He may also serve as a chaplain to various parish organizations.
The deacon may even be asked to handle some of the administrative aspects of parish life (finances, supplies, schedules, etc.); it is really a matter of the specific needs of the parish and what the pastor and deacon can work out. In the Diocese of Erie several deacons have been assigned as parish administrators. In one case two parishes have been clustered and a deacon has been assigned to administer this cluster, with two retired priests providing sacramental services. In other settings several parishes have been clustered, and each parish is administered by a deacon under the leadership of a priest who is responsible for both parishes. Given the aging and decline in numbers of the priest population, this is a model that is becoming more and more common.
As with parish ministry, the diocesan ministry flows from the needs of the community, the priorities of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan and the talents and skills that the deacon brings to ministry. A deacon may be assigned to an office in the diocese. For example, when I was serving as a deacon resident in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, at various times I served as Chancellor, Executive Director of Karidat, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Director of the Diocesan Publications Office, Tribunal judge and Finance Director. In the Diocese of Erie, I have served as a Tribunal judge and associate director for the Office of the Permanent Diaconate.
Other deacons in the Diocese of Erie serve or have served as Director of Faith Formation, consultant to the Personnel Office, and Coordinator for Pastoral Planning. Deacons in Erie have served as chaplains at local hospitals and nursing homes. One deacon is a chaplain at one of the local Catholic high schools and another served as chaplain at a local university for several years. Other deacons assist the chaplaincy office at nearby universities. Several deacons in Erie and in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa are prison chaplains or are engaged in various forms of prison and correctional ministry, both for adults and teenagers. Deacons have taught at Catholic high schools and universities in the region, as well as in the deacon formation program. Deacons have given retreats to various groups, offered days of recollection, facilitated prayer groups and provided spiritual direction. Deacons have been involved in administering or providing services at a variety of diocesan social services and outreach centers. Deacons have helped to settle refugees and see to their basic needs, as well as run soup kitchens and other services for the homeless.
Often people think of deacons only in terms of their role at Mass, yet this is only a very small part of diaconal ministry. Deacons are involved in the full range of ministry and limited only by those few ministries that are restricted to the priest (celebrating the Eucharist, Penance, Confirmation and Anointing of Sick). All of the other aspects of ministry can and are performed by deacons, depending on the pastoral needs of the people served. Yet, a deacon is not so much marked by what he does or does not do but by the nature of the order to which he is ordained. In the next installment in this series we take a look at the deacon from a more theological and spiritual perspective.