[jtal]

Let’s just say I’m not a fan of the permanent diaconate and leave it at that.

[SuziQ]

The Permanent Diaconate has not been used to its best advantage in most Dioceses. My late father-in-law was a Permanent Deacon, and his Pastor always had something for him to do; bringing the Eucharist to shut-ins, preaching at Mass, and teaching Sunday School, which he loved to do. He was an adult convert to Catholicism, and he loved the Faith.

My older sister's husband is also a Permanent Deacon, and was also given many responsibilities by the Pastors at the Parishes where he lived. At the first Parish after his ordination, he preached at Mass sometimes, and also ran the Maritime Ministry, bringing the Eucharist to the men who worked on the boats that came in to the local port. Later,he worked at the Parish at which my brother-in-law (hubby's oldest brother) was Pastor, being the director of Religious Education, as well as preaching at Masses, and working with the Youth Group.

These Deacons can be very helpful to a Pastor in a large parish, doing many of the jobs that usually fall to the priest, but which keep him from doing the job for which HE was ordained, that is, celebrating Mass, ministering to the people of the Parish, and conferring the Sacraments upon them.

[Salvation]

The diaconate is one of the steps of ordination. I’m puzzled by your statement.

[Gumdrop]

The permanent deacons have been very valuable additions to the clergy in my diocese of St Cloud (MN).

I think they are assigned to good tasks. For instance one of our deacons is an elementary school teacher so he is at the local grade school teaching the second grade class. His lucky students get to learn their religion from hims as they prepare for the sdacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Cummunion.