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Why Deacons?
The bishops of The Second Vatican Council anticipated the Church's growing need for the ministries of Sacrament, Word, Charity and Justice, which at the time were principally shared by bishops and priests only. The bishops of the Council reflected on the ministry of the deacon as exercised in the early Church and decided to restore the diaconate as a permanent ministry of married and single men.
The Church today needs the service of deacons. The deacon is called to bring a special sensitivity in ministering to the needs of the family; to single parents; to students; the aged; the sick; the imprisoned; the chemically dependent; the poor and the alienated.
"Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate." (CCC* 1536.)
The deacon complements and enriches the work of his brother priests and bishops. He fosters and encourages the laity in their baptismal call.
"In the consecratory prayer for ordination of deacons, the Church confesses:
Almighty God....
You make the Church, Christ's body,
grow to its full stature as a new and greater temple.
You enrich it with every kind of grace
and perfect it with a diversity of members
to serve the whole body in a wonderful pattern of unity.
You established a threefold ministry of worship and service,
for the glory of your name.
As ministers of your tabernacle you chose the sons of Levi
and gave them your blessing as their everlasting inheritance." (CCC 1543.)
The deacon serves Christ who enriches the Church with every kind of grace, perfects it with a diversity of members and serves the whole body in a wonderful pattern of unity. The ordained ministry of the deacon is an opportunity for a man of strong faith to give himself generously to the pressing needs of people everywhere.
*Catechism of the Catholic Church
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