A Deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. A call to be a Deacon is a call to a vocation. It is a call by God to serve his people, the Church. A Deacon may be married or he may be single.

A call to be a Deacon is a call to service. A Deacon serves his parish and community in many ways. He works with his parish pastor and leaders to help proclaim the Good News of the Gospel, to assist the priest at Mass, to help people in need, to help with baptism and marriage preparation, to help people grow in their spiritual life, and to help with wake services and funerals. The Deacon brings Jesus to everyone he meets each and every day – in his family, his parish, and his workplace. Often, a Deacon’s wife supports and helps him in his ministry work.

A Deacon gives service to his church in three main areas; Liturgy, Word, and Charity. Here are some examples of each:

Ministry of Liturgy
1. To serve as Deacon at Mass
2. To baptize
3. To witness marriage vows
4. To preside at funerals, wake services, interments
5. To preside at formal services of the assembly: Scripture service, Benediction, Stations of the Cross, Liturgy of the Hours
6. To provide or assist in formation programs for readers, special ministers of Holy Communion or servers
7. To assist the Archbishop when he celebrates sacraments at the parish

Ministry of the Word
1. To proclaim the Gospel at the Eucharistic Liturgy
2. To preach the homily
3. To catechize: RCIA, baptism or marriage preparation
4. To coordinate and/or teach a Scripture study program and stimulate lay persons to become increasingly active and responsible in those programs
5. To be available as a consultant for various parish groups which are involved in education programs

Ministry of Charity
1. To perform charitable service and works in response to social needs in the name of the parish family of the archdiocese
2. Hospital visitation
3. Nursing Home visitations
4. To care for the aged or homebound
5. Service to the handicapped
6. Jail/Prison ministry
7. To help people with troubled marriages
8. Family Life programs
9. To plan or support Social Concerns activities
10. To provide leadership within the community in various programs
11. To help develop lay involvement in the parish and community