Faith Fundamentals

This column is part of a series on holy orders and the first on the priesthood. It follows eight columns by Father Van Sloun on the ordination and ministry of deacons in the Church.

In the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, once a man is admitted to the diaconate formation program, it is a long and spiritually rich five-year journey to ordination.

Deacons wear two special vestments unique to the order of deacons: The deacon stole and the dalmatic. They are worn when the deacon serves in a liturgical role such as at Mass or for the celebration of the sacraments of baptism or matrimony.

If a man, after prayer and reflection, thinks that God may be calling him to be a deacon, it is time to begin the application process. It is normal to waver. Is God calling me or not? Should I apply now or wait? It is better to apply sooner rather than later because the application process itself is an exercise in discernment.

The call to be a deacon comes from God. There is no one way that the call comes to a particular person, so it is important to be on the lookout for signs and then subject the signs to discernment.

Deacons share in the one apostolic ministry of the bishop who has the fullness of holy orders. Deacons assist the bishop and his priests as they exercise ministries that derive from the bishop’s roles as priest, prophet and king, and his apostolic duties to sanctify, teach and govern.

Deacons are members of the clergy along with priests and bishops. A deacon shares in the one apostolic ministry of the bishop, who has the fullness of holy orders. The deacon participates in that ministry through his assistance of the bishop, and by extension, his priests.

Holy orders is one of the seven sacraments.