Deacon
and Role
The
Second Vatican Council said that a deacon is dedicated to the works of charity
and functions of administration. A deacon is ordained and commissioned by Christ
through the bishop to minister to the needy and the poor and to be a minister of
Word and Sacrament, working in obedience to his bishop and in close fraternal
cooperation with the priests. It is through the Sacrament of Holy Orders that
the deacon acquires a special relationship to the bishop.
The
permanent diaconate formation period in the Diocese of Baton Rouge entails a
five year training period that resembles a collegiate course of study and two
years prerequisite in RSI. Diaconal candidates receive instruction in New Testament,
Morality, Doctrine, Old Testament,
Church History, Liturgy, Vatican II, The Catechism, Church Structure & Law, Parish
Leadership & Administration, philosophy, Canon Law, theology, study of the
Holy Scriptures (the Bible), homiletics, sacramental studies, evangelization,
ecclesiology, counseling, spiritual direction and pastoral care of ministry
before ordination.
The deacon solemnly baptizes, brings Viaticum to the dying, is an officiate at
marriages, officiates at funerals and burial services, performs Benedictions and
leads the community in communion service. With the exception of celebrating
Mass, absolving sins and anointing the sick, all of which are reserved to
priests, deacons are given authority by the bishop, with consent of the priests
with whom they minister, for a full range of liturgical functions which
sometimes may appear indistinguishable from those of the
priests.
and Role
The
Second Vatican Council said that a deacon is dedicated to the works of charity
and functions of administration. A deacon is ordained and commissioned by Christ
through the bishop to minister to the needy and the poor and to be a minister of
Word and Sacrament, working in obedience to his bishop and in close fraternal
cooperation with the priests. It is through the Sacrament of Holy Orders that
the deacon acquires a special relationship to the bishop.
The
permanent diaconate formation period in the Diocese of Baton Rouge entails a
five year training period that resembles a collegiate course of study and two
years prerequisite in RSI. Diaconal candidates receive instruction in New Testament,
Morality, Doctrine, Old Testament,
Church History, Liturgy, Vatican II, The Catechism, Church Structure & Law, Parish
Leadership & Administration, philosophy, Canon Law, theology, study of the
Holy Scriptures (the Bible), homiletics, sacramental studies, evangelization,
ecclesiology, counseling, spiritual direction and pastoral care of ministry
before ordination.
The deacon solemnly baptizes, brings Viaticum to the dying, is an officiate at
marriages, officiates at funerals and burial services, performs Benedictions and
leads the community in communion service. With the exception of celebrating
Mass, absolving sins and anointing the sick, all of which are reserved to
priests, deacons are given authority by the bishop, with consent of the priests
with whom they minister, for a full range of liturgical functions which
sometimes may appear indistinguishable from those of the
priests.