My interview in America on deacons: ‘We’ve come a long way in a short time’

Last updated on: January 18, 2017 at 4:08 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

My interview in America on deacons: ‘We’ve come a long way in a short time’ 2017-01-18T16:08:39-05:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

So, this just happened, an interview I did with America not long ago has been published. Here’s some of what I had to say to Sean Salai, S.J.:

Next summer will mark 50 years since Pope Paul VI restored the diaconate as a permanent ministry in Roman Catholicism on June 18, 1967, which he did on the recommendation of the council fathers at the Second Vatican Council. As a permanent deacon yourself, how do you assess the success of this restoration and the status of diaconal ministry in the Western Church today?

Rocco Palmo has called the restored diaconate one of the great success stories of Vatican II—and I don’t disagree! I saw some statistics a few years ago that showed that the diaconate is the only religious vocation that is actually growing, and if you look at the numbers in the United States alone, it’s been phenomenal. We’re still relatively new—50 years in the life of the church is barely a blip on the radar screen—and I know there are still priests and bishops (and laity!) who are getting used to the idea of deacons and figuring out how best to put us to use. But we’ve come a long way in a short time. The Holy Spirit hasn’t been idle. One great sign: there are many priests being ordained today who are sons of deacons or who grew up with deacons in their home parish. They “get” the diaconate and instinctively understand what this vocation is all about.

Thanks to Paul VI’s restoration, we now have transitional deacons who are celibate men ordained for a fixed period prior to the priesthood and permanent deacons (often married men) who do not advance to priestly orders. In your experience, what are some similarities and differences between these two forms of the Roman Rite diaconate today?

Well, as blogger Fr. John Zuhlsdorf likes to say, “A deacon is a deacon is a deacon.” And he’s right. Technically, there’s really no difference between a transitional deacon and a permanent deacon. What changes, though, is what the men bring to their ministry. Transitional deacons are usually younger and, as you mentioned, are preparing for ordination to the priesthood. They’re looking at the diaconate as a step and thinking about it in a larger context. Permanent deacons, though, never aspire to be anything more than “just a deacon.” And we live out our ministry in the context of a job, marriage, family and so on. Many permanent deacons are also older—most are in their 50s and 60s when they’re ordained—and so they have all this life experience that they bring to their ministry. That informs how they minister, how they preach; it gives a different context. Also, since he lives and works in the community he serves, the permanent deacon is usually perceived differently by the people in the pews—and that’s as it should be! He can serve as the eyes and ears for the bishop or pastor—and as a voice for the people.

There’s a lot more, on topics ranging from highlights of my ministry to the toughest challenge I’ve faced and how the diaconate has influenced my faith. Check it out.

Image: Wikipedia

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 18, 2017

Boom: 87% of U.S. Catholics view Pope Francis favorably

Next Post

January 19, 2017 Nebraska nun barred from wearing habit in classroom—UPDATED

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism Education education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the king who arranged for Hezekiah's scribes to compile additional Proverbs?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ahab Solomon Hezekiah Jeroboam

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »