The Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of New Orleans

The Permanent Diaconate of the Archdiocese of New Orleans is looking for a few good men. Sometime this spring an inquiry session will begin for those men who may feel a calling to the diaconate or perhaps have been encouraged to give the diaconate a look by a pastor or ministry leader in the local parish. Ultimately, in the end, a man is ordained a Deacon by the will of God after a long period of formation. The process always starts with an inquiry. Those who participate in this year's inquiry and make application to formation will form the class of 2014.

Our Archdiocese has been very active in forming and ordaining men to the Permanent Diaconate. A class of about 18 men were ordained in the spring of 2006. These servants endured not only the rigors of formation but the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Their actual ordination was postponed 6 months while the Archdiocese struggled to get back on her feet. In 2008 we witnessed the ordination of 23 new Deacons, a class that included yours truly. We too were greatly impacted by Katrina as we discontinued formal formation activities for an entire year. We all were involved in various recovery efforts around our parishes and for some, they were busy rebuilding their lives. In 2010, just 10 months from now, we will ordain a class of 10. And a class that began just a year ago with 20 is scheduled for ordination in 2012.

With so many ordinations in the last few years why begin a new inquiry group? The reason is simple: the need is great.

The Permanent Deacon is an ordained ministry distinct from that of the Priest. Permanent deacons are ordained to be ministers of charity and service. While it is true that Deacons are seen in ministries that Priests used to be more visibly involved, the need for more Deacons is not simply a response to any shortage of Priests. Permanent Deacons are fulfilling the three-fold hierarchy of orders that can be traced to Scripture: Bishop - Priest - Deacon.

In New Orleans the Permanent Diaconate ordained it's first class in 1974. From these humble beginnings we currently have 153 men serving the Archdiocese. Currently, 75 parishes in our Archdiocese are served by a Permanent Deacon. In addition to parish ministry, Permanent Deacons in this Archdiocese serve in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice, prisons, youth rehabilitation centers, Stella Maris ministry for seamen at the port of New Orleans, chaplains at high schools, members of the Archdiocesan tribunal, work with the homeless, run alcohol and drug rehab centers and more. They serve as chaplains for the FBI, several sheriff and police departments and other secular associations. Permanent Deacons are often found during the week preparing couples for marriage, parents for the baptism of their baby, counseling those in grief, working on someone's annulment, conducting prayer services and retreats.

The need for an ordained presence in the ministry of service is great. Of the 153 Permanent Deacons in New Orleans only 1 is under the age of 50 and only 18 are under the age of 60. Almost half of our Deacons, 75 to be exact, are in the age group between 65-75. There are currently 37 dedicated servants continuing their ministry beyond the standard retirement age of 75.

Permanent Deacons must learn to carry out their ordained ministry while continuing to balance family concerns as well as careers. Sometimes, job responsibilities or family commitments may cause conflicts with diaconal assignments. In some cases, the Deacon may need a leave of absence or is transferred by the employer. Deacons, like anyone else, get sick and some may die before the age of 75. And then you have those life changing events like Hurricane Katrina that dislocated many Deacons, the number of which still sits at 27 today.

If you, or if you know someone, are interested in the upcoming inquiry process please contact your pastor or the Permanent Deacon at your parish. If there even is the slighest possibility that God is calling you to ordained ministry, come and see.

Even in this Year for Priests, even when we are all called to pray for and support vocations to the Priesthood, the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of New Orleans is striving to fulfill our vocational call. You just may be an important part of that plan.

More details to follow.