Deacons succeed those ordained by Apostles

Several weeks ago, in the first liturgy at the newly-refurbished Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, three other men and I were ordained deacons for the Albany Diocese.

On that day, we joined a long line of deacons, going back to the earliest days of the Church, through St. Stephen, the first martyr, St. Lawrence and St. Francis, who serve a ministry of word, liturgy and service.

Deacons are one of the three groups of ordained ministers in the Church; the others are priests and bishops. The title is from the Greek word for servant, which is "diakonos." One of the men with whom I was ordained is, like me, a permanent deacon. The other two are transitional deacons, and are preparing to be ordained as priests.

As ministers of the word, we are responsible for reading the Gospel at Mass. Whether the Bishop is present, or even the Pope, the responsibility for reading the Gospel belongs to the deacon. As part of the ordination rite, the Bishop presents the Book of the Gospels to the deacon with the words: "Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach."

Deacons are encouraged to spread the word by preaching a homily once a month.

As ministers of liturgy, the deacon at Eucharist prepares the altar; he mixes the water and the wine in the chalice prior to the consecration and elevates the chalice with the Precious Blood at the end of the eucharistic prayer. At communion he is the ordinary minister of the cup. He also acts as a master of ceremonies at Eucharist by directing the congregation through the various parts of the Mass.

As minister of service, the deacon has a ministry that can include visiting the sick, working in a food pantry, going into prisons, or finding other ways to help people in need.

The rite of ordination recalls the time when the apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, named seven men to assist them in their daily ministry: "By prayer and the laying on of hands the Apostles entrusted to those chosen men the ministry of serving the tables." Then, almost 2,000 years after that first laying on of hands and after some prayer, the Bishop laid his hands on us.

And so it begins.

Like priests, we can preside at baptisms, weddings, and funerals. We can give blessings.

Like the laity, we can conduct wakes, preside at various prayer services, distribute communion and catechize our children in church.

As deacons, we serve the Bishop, even though he assigns us to a particular parish. Some deacons remain in their assignment for decades, while others move more often.

In a Church known for a celibate priesthood, most deacons are married clergy. The vast majority has families and thus have one foot in the world of the church and one in secular society. In a sense, we are a bridge between the laity and the clergy, with commitments both to the sacramental life of the Church as well as to providing for our families, who have supported and encouraged us over the years of formation. Few of us receive a salary from the Church and so must work to support ourselves.

Our ministry extends into the workplace and the neighborhood. We are ordained not to be ministers just on Sundays and holy days. Our lives as deacons should enable people outside the confines of a church building to foster their own call to discipleship.

Please remember us in your prayers.

(Deacon Walter C. Ayres is assigned to St. Mary's Church in Albany.)

(07/15/10)