The readings may be taken in whole or in part from the Mass of the day or from special texts. The profession of faith and general intercessions are not said.

 

1st Reading

 

Responsorial Psalm

 

2nd Reading

 

Gospel

 

Calling of the Candidates

Priest: Those to be ordained deacons please come forward.

Presentation of the Candidates

Priest: Most Reverend Father, holy mother Church asks you to ordain these men, our brothers, for service as deacons

 

Bishop: Do you judge them to be worthy?

 

Priest: After inquiry among the people of Christ and upon recommendation of those concerned with their training, I testify that they have been found worthy.

Election by the Bishop and Consent of the People

Bishop: We rely on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, and we choose these men, our brothers, for the order of deacons.

Homily

Bishop may conclude with:

These men, your relatives and friends, are now to be raised to the order of deacons. Consider carefully the ministry to which they are promoted.

 

They will draw new strength from the gift of the Holy Spirit. They will help the bishop and his body of priests as a minister of the word, of the altar, and of charity. They will make themselves a servant to all. As ministers of the altar they will proclaim the Gospel, prepare the sacrifice, and give the Lord's body and blood to the community of believers.

 

It will also be their duty, at the bishop's discretion, to bring God's word to believer and unbeliever alike, to preside over public prayer, to baptize, to assist at marriages and bless them, to give viaticum to the dying, and to lead the rites of burial. Once they are consecrated by the laying on of hands that comes to us from the apostles and are bound more closely to the altar, they will perform works of charity in the name of the bishop or the pastor. From the way they go about these duties, may you recognize them as disciples of Jesus who came to serve, not to be served.

 

Bishop then addresses the Candidates:

My sons, you are being raised to the order of deacons. The Lord has set an example for you to follow.

 

As deacons you will serve the Jesus Christ, who was known among his disciples as the one who served others. Do the will of God generously. Serve God and mankind in love and joy. Look upon all unchastity and avarice as worship of false gods; for no man can serve two masters.

 

Like the men the apostles chose for works of charity, you should be men of good reputation, filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. Show before God and mankind that you are above every suspicion of blame, true ministers of Christ and of God's mysteries, men firmly rooted in faith. Never turn away from the hope which the Gospel offers; now you must not only listen to God's word but also preach it. Hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience. Express in action what you proclaim by word of mouth. Then the people of Christ, brought to life by the Spirit, will be an offering God accepts. Finally, on the last day, when you go to meet the Lord, you will hear him say "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord."

Commitment to Celibacy

Only used for unmarried candidates to the diaconate.

 

Bishop:

By your own free choice you seek to enter the order of deacons. You shall exercise this ministry in the celibate state: for celibacy is both a sign and a motive of pastoral charity, and a special source of spiritual fruitfulness in the world. By living in this state with total dedication, moved by sincere love for Christ the Lord, you are consecrated to him in a new and special way. By this consecration you will adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart; you will be more untrammeled in the ministry of Christian conversion and rebirth. By your life and character you will give witness to your brothers and sisters in faith that God must be loved above all else, and that it is he whom you serve in others.

 

Therefore, I ask you:

In the presence of God and the Church, are you resolved, as a sign of you interior dedication to Christ, to remain celibate for the sake of the kingdom and in lifelong service to God and mankind.

 

Candidates: I am.

Examination of the Candidates

Bishop:

My sons, before you are ordained deacons, you must declare before the people your intention to undertake the office.

 

Are you willing to be ordained for the Church's ministry by the laying on of hands and the gift of the Holy Spirit?

 

Candidates: I am

 

Bishop:

Are you resolved to hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, as the Apostle urges, to proclaim this faith in word and action as it is taught by the Gospel and the Church's tradition?

 

Candidates: I am

 

Bishop:

Are you resolved to maintain and deepen a spirit of prayer appropriate to your way of life and, in keeping with what is required of you, to celebrate faithfully the liturgy of the hours for the Church and for the whole world?

 

Candidates: I am

 

Bishop:

Are you resolved to shape your way of life always according to the example of Christ, whose body and blood you will give to the people?

 

Candidates: I am, with the help of God

 

Promise of Obedience

Bishop:

Do you promise respect and obedience to me and my successors?

 

Candidates: I do

 

Bishop:

May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.

 

Invitation to Prayer

Bishop:

My dear people, let us pray that the all-powerful Father may pour out the gifts of heaven on these servants of his, whom he has chosen to be deacons.

Litany of Saints

Deacon: Let us kneel

 

Litany - Candidates are prostrate

 

Bishop concludes:

Lord God

hear our petitions

and give your help to this act of our ministry.

We judge these men worthy to serve as deacons

and we ask you to bless them

and make them holy.

 

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

 

Deacon: Let us stand

 

Laying on of Hands

One by one the candidates go to the bishop and kneel before him. The bishop lays hands on the head of each, in silence.

Prayers of Consecration

Candidates kneel before the bishop.

 

Bishop:

Almighty God,

be present with us by your power.

You are the source of all honor,

you assign to each his rank,

you give to each his ministry.

You remain unchanged,

but you watch over all creation and make it new

through you Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord:

he is your Word, your power, and your wisdom.

You forsee all things in your eternal providence

and make due provision for every age.

You make the Church, Christ's body,

grow to its full stature as a new and greater temple.

Your enrich it with every kind of grace

and perfect it with a diversity of member

to serve the whole body in a wonderful pattern of

    unity.

You established a threefold ministry of worship and

    service

for the glory of your name.

As ministers of your tabernacle you chose the sons of

    Levi

and gave them your blessing as their everlasting

    inheritance.

In the first day of your Church

under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

the apostles of your Son appointed seven men of Good

    repute

to assist them in the daily ministry,

so that they themselves might be more free for prayer

    and preaching.

By prayer and the laying on of hands

the apostles entrusted to those chosen men the ministry

    of serving at tables.

 

Lord,

send forth upon them the Holy Spirit,

that they may be strengthened

by the gift of the sevenfold grace

to carry out faithfully the work of the ministry.

 

May they excel in every virtue:

in love that is sincere,

in concern for the sick and the poor,

in unassuming authority,

in self-discipline,

and in holiness in life.

May their conduct exemplify your commandments

and lead your people to imitate their purity of life.

May they remain strong and steadfast in Christ,

giving to the world the witness of a pure conscience.

May they in this life imitate your Son,

who came, not to be served but to serve,

and one day reign with him in heaven.

 

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Investiture with Stole and Dalmatic

The assisting deacons or priests puts a deacon's stole and then dalmatic on the newly ordained.

Presentation of the Book of the Gospels

Bishop:

Receive the Gospel of Christ,

whose herald you now are.

Believe what you read,

teach what you believe,

and practice what you teach.

Kiss of Peace

Bishop: Peace be with you.

 

Deacon: And also with you.

 

Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Continue with the Liturgy of the Eucharist

persons thought this life could be for them!