Home | Contact Parish Info | Diocese Map | Clergy Assignments | Pastoral Center Offices | Local Catholic Organizations | Jobs | Links Diaconate   Consecrated Life for Women   Priesthood   Vocations and Priestly Formation > Diaconate Deacons within Church ministry have a long rich history dating back to the times of the apostles. In the Scriptures (Acts, Chapter 6) we find the need for and establishment of the order of deacon in the early Church. From this experience, the Church has the foundation for the present day permanent deacon and the focus of their ministry as a service of charity. There are two types of deacons. A permanent deacon is a man who is married or single, 35 years or older, who is ordained to the Sacrament of Holy Orders to a ministry of service. He is ordained to serve a bishop of a particular diocese. He serves as an official representative of the Church and is aided by the sacramental graces of Holy Orders. He bears witness to all the world of Christ Himself who "came not to be served, but to serve." Permanent deacons for the most part are married men who support their families by working in secular careers. They contribute six or more hours a week of their time to their ministry and in the Diocese of Duluth do not receive a monetary compensation for their diaconal services. Deacons, both permanent and transitional, can preach at Mass, baptize, witness marriages, bury the dead, teach, participate in ministry to the sick, aged, youth, imprisoned, serve as advocacies of justice, and many other areas of ministry. The permanent deacon must be a man of deep faith and prayer, who is willing to commit a considerable amount of time to study and service to people with a variety of needs. If he is a married man, his wife and family must be willing to support his ministry and his absence from home and family, allowing him to perform the many hours demanded in ministry. Oftentimes people look upon permanent deacons as having the best of both worlds. They can be ministers within the Church yet be married. The permanent deacon has a very unique role in the Church. He has the graces of two sacraments. Seeking the balance between time needed for the family and ministry to the Church is a real struggle. Giving oneself totally to both a wife and family and to the Church is difficult and can put stress on the family. A man needs to discern at the outset whether God is calling him to the married life or the single life. Once that is discerned, then he could consider the possible call to the permanent diaconate. A second type of deacon is the transitional deacon. He is a seminarian studying for the priesthood and is typically ordained a deacon before his senior year in major seminary. His responsibilities are very similar to a permanent deacon except for the age requirement and the vow of celibacy to which he agrees. His ordination to the diaconate always leads to priesthood. Contacts: Deacon Mike Knuth mknuth@dioceseduluth.org 218-568-8226 Fr. Richard Kunst rbkunst@charterinternet.com 218-724-4828 Diocese of Duluth Vocations 2830 E. 4th Street Duluth, MN 55812   Diocese of Duluth • 2830 E Fourth St • Duluth Minnesota 55812 • (218) 724- 9111 Copyright 2010 DIOCESE OF DULUTH All Rights Reserved.