The first reading today might seem kind of strange to focus on. It looks like the description of some administrative issue within the early Church, and how the Apostles handled it. However, there is something far more important happening here: the establishment of a group of men within the Church dedicated for the purpose of service both inside and outside of the Church. The seven men picked for service are the first deacons of the Church.
The diaconate is something that’s become more prominent in the US Church since the 1970’s, and in our diocese since Bishop Warfel was named our bishop a little over 12 years ago. There’s a good reason for this. For a long time prior to the Second Vatican Council in the 1960’s, the position of deacon was generally reserved for those men who were ordained Transitional Deacons on their way to becoming a priest. Vatican II called for the return of the Permanent Diaconate, allowing men to be ordained as a deacon as his permanent vocation. The US Church as a whole, and Bishop Warfel in particular, have embraced the Permanent Diaconate, and so we hear more about this vocation in recent years.
So, what is the purpose of the diaconate? Ultimately, a deacon is called to serve. In fact, the words “deacon” and “diaconate” come from the Greek word “diakonia”, which means “service or ministering”. A man is ordained to the diaconate in order to dedicate his life to service: service at the altar, service in the Church, and service in the community.
First, a deacon is called to service at the altar. Within the Mass and other liturgies, there is often a role for a deacon. Deacons can proclaim the Gospel and give homilies at Mass, assist with setting up of the altar, and are considered ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, like priests and bishops. They also can perform weddings and baptisms, lead funeral services outside of Mass, and perform Sunday Celebrations in Absence of a Priest (as Deacon Ed from Glasgow has been so graciously willing to do here a couple times).
The deacon’s service doesn’t end at the altar. They are also called to serve within the non-liturgical life of the Church. Deacons will often help out with religious education, volunteer labor around the parish, outreach from the parish into the community and more. Anywhere that service is needed within the parish, the deacon can be there.
The final service of the deacon is to the community. In general, deacons are not employed by the Church, nor are they paid by their parishes for the service they perform. Some deacons are hired as employees of the Church, but that is rare. Instead, deacons often need to work a regular, full-time job to take care of themselves and their families, in addition to the service they perform. While this could potentially limit their service within the Church, it does put them in the position to serve the wider community. Through their jobs, community involvement, and more, deacons can serve to proclaim the Gospel with their lives.
While we do not currently have a deacon serving in our parishes, it’s my hope that some day a man from these parishes will be ordained to serve as a deacon. As we pray for vocations, may we also pray for the call to service to be heard!
