"A Welcoming Community of Faith Rooted in the Catholic Tradition"

 





 

Diocesan Deaconate


 

The men and women who serve as Diocesan Deacons, are called from and by the community and strengthened by sacramental grace, has a primary role of service to those in need. This role flows from the servant role of Jesus to the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, the alienated. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord." Historically, the service of the deacon has been directed to the disenfranchised; and in these rapidly changing times, this role of service also urges the deacon to address the particular spiritual and social needs of a racially, ethnically and economically diverse community.

 

Although most Diocesan Deacons have served in parish ministry, and many will continue to offer this valuable ministry, the major time commitment of the deacon should be this primary role of service, within or outside the parochial context. It is from this role of service that the liturgical ministry springs, providing the deacon an opportunity to facilitate and motivate concern and action for justice in the workplace and among the wider community, by animating the Christian community to an aware-ness of the needs of others.

 

For those Diocesan Deacons who are married, their ministry of service should be seen in light of the pre-eminent place of their vocation to marriage and family life. Therefore, the grace of ordination should be regarded as enhancing the grace of the sacrament of marriage, wherein the married couple already witnesses to the presence of Christ in the world.

 

The vision of the diaconal ministry needs to be reflected in the collaboration of the deacon and the bishop as they share in their common ministry of service, advocacy and empowerment relative to the needs of the marginalized of the diocesan church or mission.

 

 

Come, follow me

Canon Law and Formation Policies of the ECC

The Diocesan Deaconate

The Diocesan Priesthood

Process for Clerical Incardination

Religious Orders and Religious Societies

Welcoming Women to the Deaconate and Priesthood

Welcoming Back Inactive Deacon, Priests, Religious and Bishops 

Sample Application for the ECC Secular Formation Program

and

Saint John the Evangelist Seminary

  

 

National Church Office for Vocations
Canon Mark Hebert, Director