Where do Deacons come from?

Many of us go to Church every Sunday and perhaps we take note of the Deacon up there on the altar.  He wears vestments similar to the Priest but there are notable differences.  He proclaims the Gospel and sometimes he even preaches.  He helps set the altar and elevates the chalice at the great amen.  He assists in distributing Holy Communion, most usually the chalice.  And the Deacon is the one that gives the dismissal.  Maybe you have run into the Deacon administering Baptism for a family member or presiding at a wedding.  These are the most common scenario where we encounter the Deacon.

Ever ask yourself, where do Deacons come from?  After all, many times they come from our very parishes and neighborhoods.  The Deacon may be our doctor, lawyer, teach our kids, be the local banker; so where do they come from?

Deacons are formed.  They are not selected, per se.  First, the Bishop must decide that, for pastoral reasons, a need exists for a class of Deacons to serve the diocese.  Men are called to come and see gatherings, inquiry we call it.  Perhaps they come because they feel a tug to the ministry of the Deacon or someone else, especially a pastor, tells a man that he demonstrates some attributes that conform to the ministry.  Tonight, I attended one such gathering as men responded to a call to come and see.  This is the very earliest of possible stirrings that may led to application to join a "class".  Once selected, and the process takes many months, a four to five year period of formation and class work begins.  In addition to learning many academic things realtive to Holy Mother Church, there is the development of a spiritual dimension, a human dimension and a pastoral dimension. 

The man answering these early calls, like the 17 men who came to see tonight, will complete a year of aspirancy(aspiring) then ask for application to become a full candidate.  Sometime at the end of all these years, the man may seek ordination to the Order of Deacons; the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  If the men who came to see tonight would be selected, and endure, they would not be ordained until the summer of 2018.  Wow; what a commitment!

It was humbling, as a Deacon, to be present tonight; to meet these men, many of whom brought their wife too, who must be an active supporting partner on the journey.  How exhilarating to see there excitement and apprehension, full of questions, and to relive this very feeling I had 10 years ago this month!

Our Diaconate office will continue these come and see meetings thru the spring and then process applications over the summer to try and determine the next class of Permanent Deacon candidates for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.  May there journey be a blessed one!

So next time you see your own Permanent Deacon, remember, he was formed, educated and prayerfully journeyed with his family and support system to that point becoming a Deacon.  And since that time, he serves you and I in your parish and in those ministries assigned to him.

God Bless our Permanent Deacons!