Can a church do without deacons?

Discerning Deacons Young Adult Delegation to Rome meets Synod delegate Deacon Geert De Cubber of Belgium following the opening Synod Mass, Oct. 4, 2023.

During the first session of the Synod on Synodality, I happened to be the only Roman Catholic permanent deacon. I was told several times by some of the bishops present: “We do not need deacons, because we still have enough priestly vocations”. A recognizable reaction perhaps, but at the same time too short-sighted. It makes us wonder whether we can form a church without deacons. But can we, actually?

Potentially strong ministry
The episcopal comment above made clear that not everyone understands what exactly a deacon does or is, so I felt obliged to briefly explain to the synod what the permanent diaconate means to me. As a permanent deacon, I am neither a priest nor a priest-to-be. My vocation as a deacon is rooted in Christ, in my marriage, and in our family of three children. Although liturgy is important, a deacon’s primary vocation is not ceremonial or liturgical. The vocation of the deacon is to bring the diaconia into the catechesis and into the liturgy. Some way or another, it also belongs to the deacon’s vocation to bring the catechesis and the liturgy into the diaconia. It makes the diaconate a potentially strong ministry, especially in a suffering world like ours.

Building bridges
The sacramental presence in the world of Christ – through the ordination of the permanent deacon – is so important. As a matter of fact, many deacons have a (so-called) secular job. And that is fine. All they need to do is make sure that Christ and the Gospel is made present in their working environment. They don’t have to make that explicit through the words they speak or the clothes they wear. They can make it explicit by the way they behave, by the way they treat others, by the way they speak up, especially for those who are not given a voice in their working environment. The social teachings of the Church – often referred to as a source of Christian life – can assist the permanent deacon in his mission to build bridges between Church and broader society, especially in a secular world such as that of the West. Being a permanent deacon is about reaching out and listening to people in the periphery. A deacon brings Christ to the periphery, and the periphery into the heart of the church.

Vocation of its own right
Inevitably, a deeper reflection on the diaconate raises the question of women’s inclusion in the diaconate. The Instrumentum Laboris for the synod asks a very simple question about this. “Is it possible to envisage this?” For me, there is a simple answer to that simple question: “Yes, it is”. If, however, at some point it is decided to ordain women as deacons, we must ensure that they are not clericalized and that they are not considered as a solution to the lack of priests. A deeper understanding will show that it only works if you think of the diaconate as a vocation of its own right. So, once more: Can a church do without deacons? The answer can only be: no, she cannot. A healthy church needs deacons.

Picture of Deacon Geert de Cubber

Deacon Geert de Cubber

Geert De Cubber (1974) was ordained a permanent deacon in Gent (Belgium) in 2013. He is a non-bishop Member of the XVIth Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality.

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Witness
“For many years, I had the privilege of leading Communion services in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In the beginning, I did this with great trepidation, but by the time my ministry ended, I was thoroughly convinced that the Holy Spirit can fill the hearts, souls and minds of faith-filled women every bit as much as those of men.”
Jacalyn Anderson
Parish Member and Lector, Winchester, WI
Witness
“I have been blessed with women who have shared their many gifts with me. They have broken open Scripture for the people of God with their own perspective and insight. They have shown ways of leading which empower and confirm the value of each individual person. They have offered perspectives and visions of the Spirit’s call to live God’s love for all.”
Don Highberger, SJ
University Campus Minister and Hospital Pastoral Minister, St. Louis, MO
Witness
“If I could be ordained a deacon, the people would hear the Good News preached with authority at the pulpit and in the world. For me personally, it would feel like the ability to serve in the manner in which God has put on my heart to serve. As a minister of the word, liturgy and charity, I would preach the word to inspire others to love God and their neighbor. I would continue to bring communion to the sick and imprisoned, but I would also free our priests by taking on some baptisms, weddings, and funeral services that are outside of the Mass. It would feel like the fullness of what I was meant to do.”
Theresa Shepherd-Lukasik
Director of Adult Faith Formation, St. Joseph Parish, Seattle, WA

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