What is a deacon? What do they do? Who can become one?

“If you start looking at the word deacon, it comes from a Greek background that really means servant. A deacon is just a servant,” explained Deacon Greg Sass, director of the permanent diaconate formation. “We are all called to serve but that becomes sacramental in the giving of that vocation. The deacons should be leading the laity in doing what they should be doing — going out and evangelizing to others.”

According to Deacon Sass, deacons help with many aspects of parish life beyond Sunday Mass. They can help with baptisms, funerals, marriage prep, catechesis, bless other people and materials, and pray for the parish. “As a deacon I am required to do part of the liturgy of the hours. Part of that is you’re praying for the church worldwide and your parish specifically,” he said. “And so, you’re getting prayers that you don’t necessarily know you’re getting on a regular basis simply from that.” To learn more about the diaconate in the diocese, host Karen Gebes sat down with some current deacons and six men who are preparing to be ordained on June 29, to learn more about their call, what they do, and how they carry out the mission of the church in their everyday lives. A new interview will be released each Tuesday, at 10 a.m., beginning with Deacon Greg Sass on April 11.

Current deacons include Deacons Craig Pearson, Bob Ackerman, Greg Palmer, Bill White, Lloyd Frein, Don Moore, Jim Scherr, Tom Murphy, Rich Olsen, Rob Hrabe, John Osnes, and Chuck Rausch. She also sat down with Deacon candidates G.W. Ekroth, Jim Hulm, Timothy Minihan, Brian Paulsen, Matthew Snyder, and Philip Thompson to learn more about what drew them to the permanent diaconate and the path they took on the way to ordination.

Click here to learn more about the diaconate or email Deacon Greg Sass at gsass@diorc.org.