Permanent Diaconate
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PO Box 728
Mobile, AL 36601
(251) 689-8141Deacon Ronnie Hathorne, Director, rhathorne@mobarch.org
Deanery Leaders
Deacon Stanley Maxwell, Montgomery Deanery, smaxwell@mobarch.org
Deacon John Ross, Dothan Deanery, jross@mobarch.org
Deacon Stephen Seymour, Baldwin Deanery, sseymour@mobarch.org
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Deacon Ronnie A. Hathornerhathornemobarch.orgDirector for the Diaconate
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Deacon Stanley Maxwellsmaxwellmobarch.orgMontgomery Deanery
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Deacon John Rossjrossmobarch.orgDothan Deanery
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Deacon Stephen Seymoursseymourmobarch.orgBaldwin Deanery
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Class of 2018
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General Requirements for Deacons
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- Must be a man in good standing in the Church, and a member of a parish for at least five (5) years. And the applicant must have lived in the geographical boundaries of the Archdiocese of Mobile for at least three (3) years, prior to application.
- Must be at least 31 years of age; and no more than 62 years of age on the date the Aspirancy year begins.
- Must be a citizen of the United States of America or a Permanent Resident holding a valid "Green Card."
- Must have a stable employment record and a fiscally sound financial history. And must successfully pass financial background check.
- Must be without a criminal record.
- Must have endorsement and support of Pastor.
- Must be free of canonical impediments or irregularities.
- Must possess a minimum of a high school diploma and be capable of college level work in theological studies and is open to spiritual and ministerial formation.
- Must be able to read, write and speak English. However, papers may be written and submitted in Spanish if that is the applicant’s first language.
- If married, must have evidence of a stable and growing marriage relationship. And the applicant must be in a valid Sacramental marriage recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. His spouse must be willing to support her husband actively through formation and in his ministry.
- Married men must be married at least five (5) years and living examples of the Sacrament.
- Married men with young children must not deprive their children of adequate quality time with their father, nor place an undue burden on their wives.
- Single men must be committed to a life of celibacy subsequent to ordination. And must show that you have lead a life of celibacy for at least seven (7) years, prior to application.
- If widowed, must be widowed for at least three (3) years, prior to application.
- The applicant must show leadership qualities and possess a history of active participation in pastoral ministry in his parish.
- The applicant must show that he has the faith and compassion to strive to live the Beatitudes.
- The applicant must be in good general health and free of any chronic condition that may interfere with, or be aggravated by his participation in the formation program and ministry, if ordained.
- The applicant must have a positive attitude towards the Church and is flexible in adapting to the future needs of the Church.
- The applicant must have a prayerful disposition.
- The applicant must be able to work collaboratively with men and women of all races.
- The applicant must be capable of committing to a minimum of one (1) weekend per month to formal classroom studies and not less than ten (10) hours per week for additional studies.
- The applicant must be willing to make a life-long commitment to service within the Church.
- And the applicant must be committed to being obedient and meeting the changing needs of the Archdiocese of Mobile and his parish, after ordination.
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FAQ about Deacons
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A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. There are three groups,or "orders," of ordained ministers in the Church: bishops, presbyters and deacons. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ,who came "to serve and not to be served." The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the deacon, in virtue of his sacramental ordination and through his various ministries, is to be a servant in a servant-Church.
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All ordained ministers in the Church are called to functions of Word, Sacrament,and Charity, but bishops, presbyters and deacons exercise these functions in various ways. As ministers of Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach, and teach in the name of the Church. As ministers of Sacrament,deacons baptize,lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct wake and funeral services As ministers of Charity, deacons are leaders in identifying the needs of others, then marshaling the Church's resources to meet those needs. Deacons are also dedicated to eliminating the injustices or inequities that cause such needs. But no matter what specific functions a deacon performs, they flow from his sacramental identity. In other words, it is not only WHAT a deacon does,but WHO a deacon is,that is important.
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For many years ordained ministers "ascended" from one office to another, culminating in ordination to the presbyterate, or priesthood. The Second Vatican Council (1962 – 1965), however, authorized the restoration of the diaconate as a PERMANENT order of ministry. So, while students for the priesthood are still ordained deacons prior to their ordination as priests, there are more than 13,000 deacons in the United States alone who minister in this Order permanently. There is no difference in the sacramental sign or the functions between these so-called "transitional" and "permanent deacons."
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Yes. The Second Vatican Council decreed that the diaconate, when it was restored as a permanent order in the hierarchy, could be opened to "mature married men,"later clarified to mean men over the age of 35. This is in keeping with the ancient tradition of the Church, in which married men were ordained into ministry. Also in keeping with ancient practice is the expectation that while a married man may be ordained, an ordained man, if his wife should die, may not marry again without special permission.
"Celibacy Affects Every Deacon: In one way or another, celibacy affects every deacon,married or unmarried. Understanding the nature of celibacy —its value and its practice—are essential to the married deacon. Not only does this understanding strengthen and nurture his own commitment to marital chastity, but it also helps to prepare him for the possibility of living celibate chastity should his wife predecease him. This concern is particularly unique within the diaconate. Tragically, some deacons who were married at the time of ordination only begin to face the issues involved with celibacy upon the death of their wives. As difficult as this process is,all deacons need to appreciate the impact celibacy can have on their lives and ministry."
-- National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States, par. 72.
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Whenever a person is ordained, he is to serve the diocesan Church. Deacons are no different in this regard: they are assigned by the bishop to ministries for which the bishop perceives a great need, and for which the deacon may have special gifts or talents. Most often, this will be within a parish setting, just as most priests serve in a parish. Once assigned to the parish, the deaco and any other clergy assigned to the parish minister under the immediate supervision of the pastor. However, this assignment may be changed at the request of the deacon or the initiative of the bishop.
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The best place to start is with your pastor, who can put you in touch with the Director of Deacons for your diocese. The Director will be able to outline the various requirements and processes to be followed.
REFERENCE: UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS HTTP://WWW.USCCB.ORG/BELIEFS-AND-TEACHINGS/VOCATIONS/DIACONATE/FAQS.CFM
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Deacon Ordinations 2018
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By Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, Published in the Catholic Week (6-22-18)
The Acts of the Apostles
contains the description of the selection of the first deacons. The Apostles are concerned that
some of the poor in the early Church are going hungry. The Apostles do not have the
time to attend to all these needs and therefore associate with them- selves servants or, to
use the Greek word for servants, “dea- cons,” for this ministry of feed- ing the hungry.
Deacons through their ordination are entrusted by the Church in a special way with the acts of charity to feed the
hungry. Hunger takes many forms. Dea- cons are to take God’s love to those who experience
the hun- gers of the body and the spirit.
There is an old Church ex- pression: lex orandi, lex credendi, or loosely translated: the way
we pray is the way we believe.
Often when a deacon is asked “what can you do as a deacon?” the reply is “I can marry, baptize,
conduct funerals, and bless in certain circumstances.” But the primary role of the deacon is
not liturgical but rather to wait on tables — to attend to the hun- gers of body and spirit.
A deacon has a legitimate presence in the Mass and other times of worship, but the dea-
con’s liturgical roles at Mass ex- presses what the deacon is primarily ordained to do. In other words, the prayer of the Church (lex orandi) expresses its under-
standing of the ministry of the deacon (lex credendi).
At Mass the deacon pro- claims the Gospel, because this reminds us that the deacon is
to feed the spiritual hungers of neighbor by bringing them the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The deacon is the preferred minister of the Prayers of the Faithful. He leads us in
pray- ing for the needs of the People of God since he is dedicated by ordination to serve the needs
of the People of God.
At the offertory, the deacon joins the celebrant in receiving the gifts of the people
because the deacon is called to use these gifts for the needs of neighbor.
The deacon calls upon the congregation to offer one an- other the Sign of Peace — inviting us to express our communion of faith and charity before we receive Communion — because the
deacon is to lead us in foster- ing communion through a concern for the needs of one another. At Communion, the deacon distributes the Lord’s Blood
while the celebrant distributes the Lord’s Body. This is a sign of the collaboration of the
dea- con with those ordained for priestly ministry. The celebrant may have others assist
him with the distribution of the Lord’s Body, and the deacon may have others assist him with
the dis- tribution of the Lord’s Blood, but their roles, though distinct, are complementary,
just as were the roles of the Apostles and the first deacons. The deacon’s min- istry is exercised
under the au- thority of the bishop and pastor, never alone. The deacon’s minis- try is never his
ministry but the ministry of the Lord, entrusted to the Church and which the Church
authorizes the deacon to exercise.
Finally, at Mass, the deacon dismisses the congregation at the end of Mass. As one who is sent
to serve neighbor, the dea- con reminds all of us that the Mass empowers us to go forth
and live our faith as each one of us is called to feed the spiritual and physical hungers of other.
In short, the deacon’s liturgical role reminds us of what the church primarily calls the
con to do, namely, to wait on table, to serve the hungers of the human heart and body.
Deacons do this in a number of ways:
■ Through involvement with
Catholic Social Services caring for those, desperately hungry for hope, who have too little to
eat, who need emergency financial help, or who are in distress due to a problem pregnancy.
■ Through involvement in prison ministry, caring for those who hunger for belief in a for- giving God who never gives up on
us and offers us new beginnings, realizing as the old saying goes: every saint has a past and
every sinner has a future.
■ Through involvement with those who have suffered through divorce and who hunger for a new beginning, assisting
and guiding them in requesting help from the tribunal.
■ Through involvement with marriage preparation helping couples who hunger for a mutu- al commitment to a faithful life-
long commitment of marriage.
■ Through visits to the sick and home bound being present to those who hunger for both the
Eucharist and for a kind heart who will listen and share time with them.
■ Through ministry to those who have lost a loved one, or who suffer from illnesses, or who struggle in
relationships, accompanying God’s people in the painful times of life.
■ Through involvement in adult religious education or youth ministry, helping those who hunger to know
both the Lord and His message entrusted to the Church.
In short, deacons, just as the first deacons, minister to the hungers and the deepest
long- ings of the People of God. They are ordained by the Church to model themselves, in
a par- ticular fashion, after our Master who came not to be served but
to serve.
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