Deacons

The Ministry of Clergy reports to the Bishop and is responsible for the training and formation of men to the Permanent Diaconate and continues to assist all deacons following ordination.
 

The Ministry of Clergy:

• Selects and prepares men for ordination to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Trenton. It also provides continuing formation for the already ordained men.
• The Office is responsible for the incardination, excardination, faculties, assignments and transfers of deacons.
• Support is offered to the widows of deacons through this office, and pastoral care is provided to both active and retired deacons.

What does it mean to be a Permanent Deacon?

A deacon is a man ordained by the bishop for service in liturgy, Word and charity. He assists the bishop and his priests.

The deacon is an ordinary minister of Baptism and Holy Communion. He proclaims the Gospel at Mass, occasionally preaches, and he may officiate at weddings. He can preside at Communion services, funeral services and wakes, celebrations of the Liturgy of the Hours and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Deacons frequently minister in preparing couples for marriage and for the Baptism of their children, in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and religious education programs.

The diaconate is a ministry of service and deacons can be found visiting the sick and homebound, visiting prisoners, helping and advocating for the poor, teaching and performing a wide variety of similar ministries.

The vast majority of deacons are married and work in regular jobs in the marketplace. Some are engaged in full-time ministry in parishes or the diocese.
 

Are You Being Called to Become a Permanent Deacon?
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Bishop encourages deacons’ ministry of ‘prayer and preaching’

Coming together as a brotherhood, deacons of the Diocese of Trenton were challenged by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., to live up to the summons issued by Pope Francis on his recent trip to the United States. [continue reading…]

“May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”
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