The deacons of the Diocese of San Diego deliver God’s love through their compassionate service, particularly to the needy.
Permanent deacons are ordained ministers who assist the bishop and priests in various pastoral and sacramental functions. They conduct liturgical services, including baptisms, weddings and funerals. Each deacon’s ministry varies. Some serve primarily at parishes, while others serve the sick, the poor, or the incarcerated. The Office of the Permanent Diaconate directs the formation of deacons, has oversight of their ministry, and coordinates the ongoing education of deacons and their wives.
In the Catholic Church, the diaconate is the first of three ranks in ordained ministry. Deacons preparing for the priesthood are transitional deacons. Those not planning to be priests are called permanent deacons. Deacons are ministers of Sacrament, Charity and Word.
As ministers of Sacrament, deacons baptize, lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct wake and funeral services. The Bible records that St. Stephen as “full of grace and power, and did great wonders and signs among the people.”
St. Stephen was one of the first ordained deacons of the Church. He was also the first Christian martyr. Stephen was so conformed to Jesus in his holy life that his martyrdom was both a natural and supernatural sign of his love for the Lord. It also inspired the early believers as they faced the first round of brutal persecution.
As ministers of Charity, deacons are leaders in identifying the needs of others, then marshaling the Church’s resources to meet those needs. St. Lawrence was martyred during the third century for doing just that.
The Prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan, thought the Church had a great fortune hidden away. So, he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church’s treasure to him.
The Saint said he would, in three days. Then he went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church. When he showed them to the Prefect, he said: “This is the Church’s treasure!” In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death.
As ministers of Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach, and teach in the name of the Church. St. Vincent was ordained to the diaconate by St. Valerius, Bishop of Saragossa, and commissioned to do the preaching in the diocese. Because his bishop suffered from a speech impediment, Vincent acted as his spokesperson. When the Roman Emperor Diocletian began persecuting Christians in Spain, Vincent answered in the bishop’s name and both were brought before the Roman Governor. After years of torture and torment, St. Vincent died of his wounds in prison in 304, becoming the first martyr, or “protomartyr” of Spain.
A permanent deacon is ordained after much training and remains in his work until mandatory retirement age of 75.
It is the pastor who gets the ball rolling in the process to become a deacon.
The deacons of the Diocese of San Diego come together to live out their mission to serve the needy by coordinating an annual event that provides a million nutritious meals to children and families living in extreme poverty.
Please reach out to us for any questions about becoming a permanent deacon or serving as one.
Associate Director
Please reach out to us for any questions about becoming a permanent deacon or serving as one.
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