The call to serve.
A deacon is ordained “not unto the priesthood, but unto a ministry of service.” Most are married men who keep their jobs and family life while serving the Church at the altar, in the pulpit and among the poor.
Lumen Gentium 29
Source: CARA, Georgetown University, A Portrait of the Permanent Diaconate in 2024. The Church needs more deacons than it is ordaining.
Word. Altar. Charity.
The Church describes the deacon as a minister of Word, Liturgy and Charity. Tap each to see what that looks like in a parish.
He proclaims the Gospel.
At Mass, the deacon reads the Gospel and may preach the homily. He teaches the faith in RCIA, sacramental preparation, Bible study and wherever the Church needs a voice.
- Proclaims the Gospel at Mass
- Preaches homilies
- Teaches and forms adults, couples and families
“Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”Rite of Ordination of a Deacon
He serves at the altar.
The deacon assists the priest at Mass and celebrates several sacraments and rites himself.
- Baptizes
- Witnesses and blesses marriages
- Brings Communion and Viaticum to the sick and dying
- Leads wakes, funerals and burial services
- Leads Benediction and other prayer of the Church
Deacons are “to administer baptism solemnly, to be custodian and dispenser of the Eucharist, to assist at and bless marriages in the name of the Church.”Lumen Gentium 29
He goes to those in need.
The first deacons were chosen so the widows would not be neglected (Acts 6:1–6). Today deacons lead outreach to the poor, the sick, the imprisoned and families in crisis, and help the parish see needs it might miss.
- Hospital, jail and nursing home ministry
- Outreach to the poor and immigrants
- Bringing the parish’s needs to the bishop and pastor
The deacon is “a living icon of Christ the Servant within the Church.”USCCB, National Directory for Deacons
Who does what?
Deacons and priests both receive Holy Orders, but their ministries differ. Pick a filter to compare.
| Ministry | Deacon | Priest |
|---|---|---|
| Proclaim the Gospel at Mass | Yes | Yes |
| Preach the homily | Yes | Yes |
| Baptize | Yes | Yes |
| Witness a Catholic marriage | Yes | Yes |
| Lead a funeral service outside Mass | Yes | Yes |
| Bring Communion and Viaticum to the dying | Yes | Yes |
| Expose the Blessed Sacrament and give Benediction | Yes | Yes |
| Celebrate Mass and consecrate the Eucharist | No | Yes |
| Hear confessions and give absolution | No | Yes |
| Anoint the sick | No | Yes |
| May be married when ordained (Latin Church) | Yes | No |
Each deacon and priest serves with the faculties his bishop gives him.
At least five years, one step at a time.
This is the path set by the Diocese of San Bernardino’s Office for Deacons. Married men and their wives walk it together.
Inquirer
Your pastor or parish leader sends an Inquirer Recommendation Form and a letter to the Director of the Office for Deacons. You then submit a full application. The office takes at least six months to review it.
Deadline: Applications received by February 15 are considered for entry that fall.
Aspirant
Two or more years of discernment. One formation weekend a month (Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 4 PM), a directed practicum, an opening retreat and a retreat at the end of each year.
Candidate
Three or more years of formation in theology, prayer and pastoral skills. Two formation weekends a month, three directed practica, a retreat at the end of each of the first two years and a five-day canonical retreat before ordination.
Ordination
The bishop lays hands on the candidate and ordains him a deacon for life. A married man must be at least 35 and have his wife’s consent. A single man must be at least 25 and promises celibacy (Code of Canon Law, can. 1031).
Lifelong ministry
The bishop assigns each deacon to a ministry, often in his home parish. Formation continues after ordination: most U.S. dioceses require it every year.
If I applied this year, when could I be ordained?
These are the earliest possible dates. Every man moves at the pace his formation team discerns.
Am I ready to begin?
These are the entry requirements listed by our diocese’s Office for Deacons. Check what is already true for you. Nothing here is sent anywhere.
Men enter formation between ages 32 and 55.
Check the boxes that are true for you.
A vocation the whole family lives.
Her yes matters.
The Church will not ordain a married man without his wife’s consent. Wives commit to attending the required formation classes and activities with their husbands.
Home comes first.
Children need to be old enough to stay home, or reliable childcare must be in place for formation weekends. A deacon’s first ministry stays his own family.
A promise of celibacy.
Single men may become deacons and promise celibacy at ordination. A man in Holy Orders cannot marry afterward, including a widowed deacon, unless the Holy See grants a dispensation.
From the Apostles to today.
- 1st centuryThe Apostles choose seven men to serve the community, including St. Stephen, the first martyr (Acts 6:1–6).
- 258St. Lawrence, deacon of Rome, is martyred caring for the Church’s poor.
- 373St. Ephrem the Syrian, deacon and Doctor of the Church, dies.
- 1964Vatican II calls for restoring the diaconate as a permanent rank, open to married men (Lumen Gentium 29).
- 1967St. Paul VI restores the permanent diaconate in Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem.
- 1968The U.S. bishops receive approval to restore it in this country.
- 1971The first U.S. permanent deacons are ordained.
- 2022The USCCB’s second edition of the National Directory for deacons takes effect.
What men and their wives ask most.
Do deacons get paid?
Most deacons keep their regular jobs and serve as volunteers. Some are hired by a parish or the diocese for a specific role, such as running religious education or a parish office.
Will I have to leave my job or move?
No. Formation happens on weekends so men can keep working. After ordination, the bishop assigns each deacon, often to his home parish.
How much does formation cost?
Formation fees are shared by the couple, the parish and the diocese. Ask the Office for Deacons for the current amounts.
Is formation offered in Spanish?
The Office for Deacons publishes its program information in English and Spanish. Ask the office about current Spanish-language formation.
Can my wife be part of this?
Yes. Wives of married aspirants and candidates attend the required formation classes and activities, and the Church asks for her consent before ordination.
What if I am over 55 or under 32?
Our diocese accepts men between 32 and 55 when formation begins. If you are outside that range, the Office for Deacons can talk with you about other ways to serve.
Could I become a priest later?
A married deacon is ordinarily not ordained a priest in the Latin Church. If you feel called to the priesthood and are single, talk to our Vocations Office.
Talk to the Office for Deacons.
The Office for Deacons runs diaconate formation for the Diocese of San Bernardino. Start with your pastor, then call or visit the office.
Diocese of San Bernardino
- Phone
- (909) 475-5160
- Address
- 1201 E. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92404
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM