Just one Deacon's opinion

Recently an Australian Deacon wrote an article called Deacons and the Servant Myth. His article has been all over the blogosphere, facebook, etc. His premise is basically that the concept that the distinctive character of the Deacon of service, charity and social justice is a myth. While he never discounts these aspects of diakonia, he seems to be implying that there is more to the restored diaconate as a permanent rank among the hierarchy. He states over and over the obvious; yes, Deacons proclaim the Gospel, assist with liturgical functions, baptize, witness marriages and can conduct funerals. His point basically is that Deacons do many things and we should not over emphasize service.

Before I opine I will concede that the esteemed Deacon is well intentioned, highly educated and probably a faith filled servant. And I am not prepared, in this essay, to debate from documents. Here are my basic issues with the article. First, again we focus on activities. Deacons are not about just doing; they are the icon of Christ the servant. By nature of thier ordination, the Deacon represents service sacramentalized. He is the tangible witness of a servant in the domestic church, the home, and in the workplace and the community.

The fact that the Deacon assists in liturgical functions and proclaims the Gospel is not different from being an ordained minister for service. It's all the same. And the Deacon proclaims the Gospel everyday, even when not at Mass. It is proclamation by example.

One of the arguments in the article is how the service and charity thing does not touch the Transitional Deacon in the same manner as the Permanent Deacon. Ordained a Deacon, a man is a Deacon. What we can say about this is simply the Transitional Deacon is under the guidance of their formation directors and seminary leaders and it is most clearly defined that they will spend 6 months or 1 year preparing for the Priesthood. This is not the case for the Permanent Deacon. It should never be implied or believed that once a Permanent Deacon becomes widowed he should ask to be a Priest. While this might be possible, it should not be assumed. I realize that I was specifically called by the Holy Spirit to the church's ministry of service sacramentalized. I do not have a call to the Priesthood.

We often hear the arguments about the Priest shortage and Deacons filling roles decades ago handled by Priests. I contend that any shortage of Priests has nothing to do with the Diaconate if the Church is sincere in preserving the three tiered hierarchy of episcopacy, presbyters, diaconate.

I continue to be inspired by the awesome example of charity, service and social justice demonstrated everyday by Permanent Deacons. If you want to find the Catholic Church at the homeless shelter tonight, or in the prisons and juvenile detention centers, in hospitals just to listen and pray with families, preparing to go to the nursing home in the morning, working with drug addicts, visiting with patients and families in hospice, visiting with far from home seamen in far from home ports, visiting with a young couple preparing for marriage or a married couple grappling with staying together, feeding the hungry at the food bank, minsitering to the lonely and depressed, follow the Permanent Deacon throughout the week. Most will not see these things but will see the Permanent Deacon at Mass. Yes, we proclaim the Gospel and assist at liturgy and preside at certain sacraments, because we are where the Church needs to be; needs to go.

Just one Deacon's opinion; everything about this ministry, be it word, sacrament or charity is about being the icon of Christ the servant and service sacramentalized. That's why it is never about what we do; but who we are!