The Diaconate

Transitional and Permanent

What is a deacon and what is the difference between a transitional deacon and a permanent deacon?

Transitional deacons are seminary students in the process of becoming ordained priests. They serve as deacons for one year and are then ordained by the bishop as priests.

Transitional Deacons are seminarians who are ordained as deacons, usually in their final year before priestly ordination; they are referred to as ‘transitional deacons.’

Permanent deacons are ordained to the Catholic Church and have no intentions of becoming a priest. Deacons may be married or single.

Permanent deacons are mature men, aged over 35, married or celibate, who by virtue of their ordination are members of the clergy. The word ‘Deacon’ means servant. Their ministry is one of service to the Church, and with the Church to the world, with a special concern for the poor and marginalised. The majority are in secular employment or retired. A few are paid by the Church or employed as chaplains in hospitals and prisons.

To find out more about the Permanent deaconate contact Deacon Ken Carleton

Vocations Story

Good Shepherd Sunday

Deacon Paschal Uche - Message for Good Shepherd Sunday

Saint of the Day

  • Servant of God Francis Garces and Companions

    Servant of God Francis Garces and Companions Feast date: Jul 17 A contemporary of the American Revolution and of Blessed Junipero Serra, Francisco Garcés was born in 1738 in Spain, where he joined the Franciscans.After ordination in 1763, he was sent to Mexico. Five years later he was assigned to San Xavier del Bac near Tucson, one of several missions […]

  • Jul. 17 Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Weekday

    The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Alexis (early 5th c.), "Man of God." He was an Eastern saint whose veneration was transplanted from the Byzantine empire to Rome, whence it spread rapidly throughout western Christendom. Together with the name and veneration of the Saint, his legend was made known to Rome and the West by means of Latin versions based on the form current in the Byzantine […]