THE HISTORY OF THE DIACONATE

The ministry of deacons goes back to the origins of the Church itself.  An illustration of the deacons role is first mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, 6:2-5.  The Twelve Apostles called a meeting of all of Jesus’’ disciples and asked them to select seven “filled with the spirit and wisdom so the apostles could focus their efforts on “prayer and to service of the word.”  In this context the role of deacon began to be formed with an emphasis on service – to those in the presbyteries, to the community, to the poor, the sick and the oppressed. 

St. Stephen, one of the original seven is considered the first martyr of the church.  St. Francis was a deacon. 

The role of the deacon, as centuries past, became less prominent.  By the end of the first millennium the decline was complete.  For the next several centuries the permanent diaconate was really a nonexistent ministry.  

While for the past several centuries the order of deacon was seen as a preliminary to ordination to priesthood, tradition of the diaconate points to its origins in the New Testament as a separate and unique ministry.  In the Acts of the Apostles, 6:2-5, scripture speaks of the disciples selecting seven reputable men to devote themselves to help serve at the table of the Lord.

At the time of the Second Vatican Council the role of the deacon had been discussed as part of the overall liturgical review which flourished during the early 20th century.  Consequently the renewal of the order of deacons was seen in light of the Council’s vision for ordained ministry in the church. 

The Vatican II document Lumen Gentium and the Diaconate: Paragraph 29 states –

“At the lower level of the hierarchy” (those who have received the sacrament of holy orders in the church – deacons, priests and bishops) “are deacons, upon whom hands are imposed “not unto the priesthood, but unto a ministry of service.”  The document went on to say “it is the duty of the deacons to administer baptism solemnly, to be custodian and dispenser of the Eucharist, to assist at and bless marriages in the name of the church, to bring Viaticum to the dying, to read the sacred Scripture to the faithful, to instruct and exhort the people, to preside at the worship and prayer of the faithful, to administer sacramentals, and to officiate at funeral and burial services.  Dedicated to the duties of charity and of administration, let deacons be mindful of the admonition of Blessed Polycarp: “be merciful, diligent, walking according to the truth of the Lord, who became the servant of all.”

After the close of the Council, in 1967, Pope Paul VI provided directives for the implementation of the permanent diaconate.  The Bishops in the US moved quickly and in 1968 requested permission fro Rome to begin the implementation of the permanent diaconate in this country.

Bishop McGann appointed various diocesan leaders (including our own former Pastor, Msgr. John Martin) to study introducing the diaconate in our diocese.  Throughout the 1970’s much time and energy was expended to determine the current and potential diocesan needs and the probability of the restored order of deacons as helping to fulfill those needs.  Response from pastors in the diocese was positive as to the installation of deacons.  The result was the preparation and ordination of the first class of permanent deacons in 1979 (Msgr. Martin was the first Director of Deacons for the diocese).

Presently there are over 250 deacons serving in varying ministries and in all but 30 of the diocesan parishes throughout Long Island.