Become An Ordained Deacon

In order to Become An Ordained Deacon you must meet several requirements.  This is because the institution of the Christian Church is one that is built upon the foundation of certain offices. Without these offices, the Church cannot function in any capacity, either spiritually or institutionally. According to the content of Paul’s letters to the Ephesians, there are five (5) basic offices which are highly key to the Church’s existence.

Ordained Deacon – What Is It?

These offices include those of the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. But aside these aforementioned offices, there are also other offices that are equally importantly in the Church. One of such is the office of the Deacon. It is one of those offices that have been traditionally recognized since the inception of the Church. Unfortunately today, many members of the Church do not understand who the deacon is and what his roles are. The aim of this article is to shed sufficient light upon this subject and even provide much-needed help to the Christian who looks to become a deacon.

Who Is an Ordained Deacon?

It is not highly uncommon to see Christians or the general public regard priests and deacons in the same manner. This is completely inappropriate. Though they may at times share the same responsibilities and appear in the same apparels, deacons are not priests. The history of deacons goes as far back as the times of the Early Church, the days of Peter and the other Apostles. In fact, the very first martyr of the Church, Stephen, was a deacon.

The duties of the deacons in that era were highly limited. According to the records of the book of Acts, they were appointed to oversee the distribution of food and supplies and for other administrative purposes. But these roles have metamorphosized over two millenniums. The roles of the deacon in the present-day Church have expanded to cover even more intricate matters.

Today, there are two different types of deacons namely the permanent deacons and the transitional deacons. The differentiating factors between these two groups are not in the roles they play but in their status. A transitional deacon is simply a seminary student on his way to occupying the office of the priest. Transitional deacons are expected to serve in this capacity for one year before they are finally ordained as priests. This ordination is carried out by the bishop.

On the other hand, permanent deacons are ordained ministers who have no intentions whatsoever of becoming priests. Just like priests, they are not permitted to marry after they have been ordained into the deaconry. A life of celibacy is part of the commitment they are to undertake. Considering the fact that it is an ordained office, only men are allowed to become deacons as is the tradition of the Catholic Church.

Deacons can perform many of the duties of the priest with a number of exceptions. Roles such as baptism, delivering a Mass sermon and witnessing a wedding can be filled by deacons. They can even handle roles as big as running a parish so far as they have been authorized by the local bishop. However, they are neither allowed to hear confessions nor able to administer the consecration of the Eucharist. In essence, their major role is to assist and serve. Their authority is subject to that of the priests, bishops, cardinals and ultimately the Pope.

How To Become A Deacon

The road to becoming a deacon is not an easy one. There are quite a number of prerequisites that must be met before one is considered admissible into this position. The first of such is being a practicing member of the Catholic church who has been baptized. Most Catholics are baptized in childhood. However, if he was baptized as an adult, he must have been a Catholic officially for at least five (5) years prior to his ordination. As mentioned earlier on, all priests in their final year of training are automatically transitional deacons. The second requirement is that of age. A deacon must not be below 35 years of age. Generally, he may not also be older than sixty (60) years of age but this restriction may vary depending on the diocese.

Additionally, there are marital requirements that must be fulfilled also. A deacon, before his ordination, is permitted to be married and this marriage must be recognized by the Catholic church. His decision to become a deacon must be in agreement with his wife and family in general. In the case of a previous divorce, he must seek annulment from the Church.

The requirements go on to also touch the matter of education. A deacon must be well-educated, possessing at least a high school diploma and likewise, committed to undertake the five (5) years of study that is mandatory for prospective deacons. Anyone who meets these five (5) requirements can then send in an application to the diocesan diaconate office through his priest. The application must contain a letter of recommendation signed by the priest, testifying whether or not the applicant is a faithful member of the Church. Afterwards, a series of strict interviews and fact findings ensue. This is followed by a lot of documentation that include certificate of baptism, medical records, academic transcripts amidst a host of others. All this paperwork is reviewed by the diocesan diaconate committee who then make their decision known. A final consensus is reached by the bishop.

Brescia University has an excellent article on becoming a deacon.  You can find it here.

How Much Does It Cost to Become A Deacon?

Of course, it takes a lot spiritually and mentally to assume the role of a deacon and there’s no denying that. But it costs very little in terms of financial expenses to become a deacon. The major cost involved is incurred during the formation and a great share of this is taken care of by the Church. The deacon might only need to handle book costs and liturgical expenses and these amount to about $600 in a year.

Catholic Deacon Salary

According to Catholic structure, the diaconate is a ministry of voluntary service. One is not paid for serving in this capacity. A deacon may, however, be hired to fill some other paid position in the Church.

Conclusively, the diaconate is a vocation inspired by the Holy Spirit and any man desiring to undertake it must treat it with commensurate reverence.