Could you please explain what is the proper role of a deacon in a parish setting?

TCA Question & Answer of the Day Each weekday, you'll find a new question and answer.  Let us know what you think - - or question! -- by emailing us at tcanswer@osv.com. For the Week of Sept. 26-30, 2011

Question of the Day for Thursday, September 29, 2011 Deacons in Parishes Q. Could you please explain what is the proper role of a deacon in a parish setting? A. Here’s a reply from Father Reginald Martin: The Acts of the Apostles describes how certain men were chosen to assist the apostles in the early Church’s charitable efforts (see 6:6). Two thousand years later, the deacon’s job description has been expanded, but deacons continue to serve as bishops’ administrative and liturgical ministers. For this reason, the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out, only the bishop lays hands on a candidate for ordination to the diaconate (see No. 1569). Although a deacon will serve in a parish, he is a special assistant to the bishop. The Catechism states, “It is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity” (No. 1570). Deacons do not preside at Mass, offer absolution or confer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, but their liturgical ministry is large and varied, and a deacon’s services to a parish’s charitable outreach are as vital as they were in the first century. Parish communities may consider themselves fortunate to have the assistance of dedicated deacons.

 

That's me in 1987, proclaiming the  Gospel at Mass.

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