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A
parish may have more than one deacon! The decision lies with the bishop where
he needs his deacons but in most cases, a deacon is assigned to his own parish.
If
my parish already has a deacon, may I still put my name forward or can there
only be one deacon?
No! A deacon may preside over a the Liturgy of the Word
and Communion Service if there is no priest available to say mass but a
deacon does not have the faculty to consecrate - turn the bread into the
Body and the wine into the Blood.
The wife's status remains unchanged after ordination. The
Catholic Church expects the deacon's wife - and family - to support him
but the vocation is his, not her's - nor theirs! A wife may well become
more involved in church activities because of her husbands ministry and
her spiritual growth could find new energy.
You
Ask - We Answer
Frequently
Asked Questions
May
a deacon say Mass if there is no priest available?
Will my wife be a Deaconess when I'm
ordained?
Is a deacon paid the same as a
priest?
Who
will teach the the aspirant deacons?
In
the first year of formation the aspirants will attend lectures given by parish
priests and others invited by Bishop Pat. The lectures are once a week in
the evenings and one Saturday per month.
Canon
Law stipulates the earliest age for ordination to the diaconate for a married
man is 35. Entry to the formation programme is for those 30 years and over.
The New Zealand Bishops may issue a regulation which requires a later age
for the permanent diaconate. The oldest is at the discretion of the Bishop
but is usually not much beyond retirement age.
At
what age may a man become a deacon?
The faculties of an ordained minister are determined in Canon Law and Canon Law teaches us that a priest does not have all the faculties given to a bishop. Likewise, a deacon does not have all the faculties given to a priest.
Why
can't deacons do everything a priest does?
Deacons
can administer the sacrament of Baptism and serve as the church's witness
at the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, which the bride and groom administer to
each other. Deacons may preside at funerals, the Liturgy of the Hours, various
services such as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and they may give blessings.
They cannot give absolution, anoint the sick, or say Mass.
Over
which sacraments may a deacon preside?
A
transitional deacon is a man aspiring to the priesthood. He will spend at
least six months as a deacon before he is ordained to the priesthood. A permanent
deacon is a separate vocation that is entered for life.
What
is the difference between a transitional and permanent deacon?
Transitional
and permanent deacons both have the faculty to preach the homily by right
of their ordination unless the priest presider retains that ministry to himself
in any particular liturgy.
Can
a deacon preach?
Most
deacons are not paid by the Church. They are expected to be 'economically
self-sufficient.'
