The permanent deacon, who may be single or married, dedicates his life to serving others. His ministry of service focuses on three areas: assisting at the altar in the celebration of the sacraments; preaching the Word of God and leading people in prayer; and reaching out in loving service to...
Saint Paul lists numerous kinds of service to which disciples are called in order to build up the Body of Christ: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph 4:12). Some of these ministries are exercised by both the lay faithful and the clergy, others only by the ordained. Since the...
Deacon Candidate Dean Johnson- Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish, Glassboro. I laughed so hard. It was one of those uncontrollable belly laughs that garnered raised eyebrows and side-eyed glares from passers-by. I along with my family was walking from the parking lot to the church for Sunday Mass when we...
Make disciples of all nations, baptizing then in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20) Do you hear our Lord Jesus Christ calling you to serve him; his Church; the Body...
Deacon Candidate David Harkins- Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood. I am a member of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Blackwood, NJ. I am married to my wife Lisa, and the father of a teenage son with disabilities, David Jr., and a teenage daughter, Grace. I am currently a...
Deacon Candidate Michael Bortnowski- Christ our Light Parish, Cherry Hill. Although I have experienced a strong calling for a deeper relationship with Christ and the Church since the late 1990’s, my journey in the Diaconate Formation began with many questions. Do I have what it takes to be a good...
The foundation of the ministry of the Order of Deacons is a divine vocational call. A call to vocation is a grace from God. There are many ways in which this grace may present itself: through an invitation on the part of priests, deacons, and the faithful who suggest to...
Welcome to the Camden Diocese Deacon Website! You are invited to browse this site, where you will find various articles, programs and practical “how to’s” all aimed to help those discerning a possible call to serve in ordained ministry as a permanent deacon. There is a link that will enable you...
Saint Stephen was one of the first ordained deacons of the Church. He was also the first Christian martyr. The Greek word from which we derive the English word martyr literally means witness. In that sense, every Christian is called to bear witness to Jesus Christ, in both their words...