A glimpse at the Permanent Diaconate in America

I received an email from one of our local pastors with an attachment from the USCCB. It is the 2009-2010 report titled A Portrait of the Permanent Diaconate. The report is lengthy but I'll share some highlights:

21 dioceses have 200 or more Permanent Deacons. Chicago has 646.
The estimate of all Permanent Deacons in the United States is 17,000 with 16,350 active.
92% of the Permanent Deacons are currently married.
60% of active Permanent Deacons are older than 60.
81% of active Permanent Deacons are white, 14% Hispanic, 2% African American and 2% Asian.
Only 18% of Permanent Deacons receive some financial compensation. (these are usually employed in a job by a diocese or parish).
90% of all dioceses have a Director of the Permanent Diaconate; 33% are full time in the position.
90% of all dioceses have a minimum age requirement and 47% have a mandatory retirement age.
The only diocese who responded to the Bishop's survey stating they have no Permanent Deacons is Salina.
On average, 200 Permanent Deacons retire from active ministry every year and another 150 die.
84% of all dioceses require post-ordination formation. Average number of hours required is 24.
95% of all dioceses require an annual retreat of all Permanent Deacons.

This is but a snapshot of the demographics of the Permanent Diaconate. I continue to remind myself everyday of what I learned in formation: it's not what we do but who we are and all formation is self formation.

This snapshot will never fully tell the story of how the Permanent Deacon, representing Christ the Servant and sacramentalizing service, serves at the parish and community level. That is why I have a prison ministry and a parish assignment. I am also, as are all my brother Deacons, faithful and subject to my Bishop.

In just a few short weeks, here in New Orleans, we will began yet another inquiry with the goal to form a formation group for 2014 ordination. 10 new Permanent Deacons will be ordained in December 2010 and another 20 are in classes now for 2012. The Archdiocese of New Orleans continues to aggresively add additional Permanent Deacons, if it be God's will, in our post Katrina recovery.