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The permanent diaconate What is a deacon?
In the Catholic Church, deacons are “the eyes and ears of the bishop;” that is, they are the bishop’s immediate representatives in the execution of his concerns. They are his extended “sense perception” among the people. Deacons take note of the moral condition of the people, identify the sick and the needy, and oversee the bishop’s decisions concerning them. People often approach the bishop with their concerns through the deacons.
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A man ordained to a ministry of service. He is an ordained person living in the
lifestyle of the laity—over 90 percent are married. The typical deacon attempts to
balance three priorities: the responsibility of husband and father, his
profession by which he earns a living or supplements retirement income, and his
ministry of service. The deacon's service is threefold: service of the Word
(proclaiming the Gospel message, teaching, conducting retreats, counseling),
service of the altar (witnessing marriages, baptizing, presiding at wakes and
funerals, conducting prayer services), and service of charity (serving the poor,
giving voice to those who are silenced, being involved in social justice).
Source: Youth Update Glossary, St.
Anthony Messenger Press, 2002.
