Ordained to Serve

Permanent Diaconate

Ordained to Serve

What is a Catholic Deacon?

Deacons, by virtue of their sacramental ordination and through their various ministries, are called to be servants in a servant-Church. They are dedicated to the people of God in communion with the bishop and his priests, in the service of the Word, Liturgy and charity. Deacons are a sacramental sign of Christ the servant in the workplace, in the marketplace and in the family.

They are a unique witness and official presence of the Church within the broader community. A deacon is ordained by the bishop to work together with the priests and lay leaders of the Church. He is an enabler who encourages all baptised people to use their gifts in the service of Christ.

Permanent deacon ordination gathering in the Catholic Church

Ministry

What does a Deacon do?

Word

As ministers of the Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach and teach in the name of the Church.

Sacrament

As ministers of Sacrament, deacons baptise, lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages and conduct funeral services.

Charity

As ministers of Charity, deacons identify the needs of others and marshal the Church's resources to meet those needs.

Whatever specific functions a deacon performs, they flow from his sacramental identity. In other words, it is not what a deacon does, but who a deacon is, that is important.

Catholic vocation

Become a Deacon

The applicant for the diaconate in the Diocese of Broken Bay should be a man who:

✓ Is committed to and lives out of Gospel values
✓ Has shown leadership qualities in parish/Diocesan ministry
✓ Is no younger than 35 and no older than 60 to enter the program
✓ Is identified by his parish community as a person of service, values and justice
✓ If married, is in a stable happy marriage and whose wife and children support him in pursuing the diaconate
✓ Is capable of giving serious attention and time to theological study, spiritual formation and ministry
✓ Has a stable work history
✓ Has a positive attitude towards the Church and is flexible in adapting to the future needs of the Church
✓ Is formally presented for the diaconate by his pastor who sees that he is mentored during the years of formation
✓ When all of these steps have been completed, the Diaconate Formation Team will make their recommendation to the Bishop, who will conduct the final interview with the enquirer and his wife.

"The deacon's ministry is the Church's ministry of service sacramentalised. You are to be the active presence of the Church's charity, the living sign of the servanthood of Christ."

— Pope St. John Paul II

Discernment

The Enquiry & Application Process

Initial Meeting

A man who wants to find out more about the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Broken Bay will first meet with the Vocation Director, Fr Joey Frez.

Formation Team

The Vocation Director will refer the enquirer to the Diaconate Formation Team, who accompany the enquirer and his wife as they explore their calling.

Formal Application

When the calling is clear, the Diaconate Formation Team invites them to make a formal application to the Bishop seeking entry into the formation program.

Assessment

The application includes a written autobiography, interviews, psychological testing, references and supporting letters.

Recommendation

When all steps are complete, the team makes its recommendation to the Bishop for the final interview.

When all of these steps have been completed, the Diaconate Formation Team will make their recommendation to the Bishop, who will conduct the final interview with the enquirer and his wife.

Start the Conversation

Discernment is a journey undertaken with the Church. If you feel God might be calling you to the priesthood, reach out for guidance and support.