Acknowledgements

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Justin Sands, for
his guidance and support throughout my studies. His wisdom and expertise were
invaluable in helping me to complete my thesis. I would also like to thank my wife
and children for their patience and understanding, as well as my relatives and friends
who have encouraged and supported me throughout this journey. I am grateful to the
South African Police Service, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation for the
continuous support and prayers from my Parish, Mkobola Pastorial District. The
knowledge gained in these studies will contribute to my commitment and skills of
rending services to the community Icommunity I love and respect. Thank you to the
Arch BishopArchbishop of the Ach-Diocese of Pretoria, for his leadership and
support to the permanent deacons of the Arch-Diocese. Thank you to my fellow
Deacon Brothers for the encouragement and prayers.

i
 Definition of abbreviations and key terms

Definition List of Aabbreviations

LG: Lumen Gentium

AGL Ad Gentes
SACBC: Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference
SDO: Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem
CCC: Catechism of the Catholic Church
CIC: Codex Iuris Canonici (Code of Canon Law as revised in
1983)
OMI Oblates of Mary Immaculate
SJ: Societas Iesu ( Society of Jesus)
OBS: Ordo Sancti Benedicti ( Order of Saint Benedict)
C.SS.R: Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris
SOPD: Sacred Order of Permanent Deacons
AGM: Annual General Meeting
AD: Anno Domini

SDO: Sacrum Diaconatus Ordem

Definition of key terms

2
 - Contemporary South Africa: Refers to the current state of South Africa,
taking into account its political, social, and cultural landscape.

 -A Deacon refers to an ordained minister in the Catholic Church. Deacons are

ordained to serve the church in a variety of ways, including preaching, leading
worship, and serving the poor and marginalized. They are not priests, but they
are ordained to assist the priesthoods in their ministry. In addition, deacons
may be married, unlike priests, who are required to remain celibate.

 - Catholic permanent deacons: Refers to a specific ministry within the

Catholic Church, consisting of ordained men who serve in a supporting role to
the clergy.

 - A transitional deacon is a man who is studying for the priesthood and has
been ordained as a deacon. Unlike a permanent deacon, who is a man who
has been ordained as a deacon and is not continuing on to the priesthood, a
transitional deacon is in a period of transition, preparing for his future
ordination to the priesthood. Transitional deacons typically serve as assistants
to priests, assisting at Mass and with other sacraments.

 Laity refers to the members of the Catholic Church who are not ordained
ministers. This includes both men and women, and they play a vital role in the
life of the church. The laity participate in the liturgy, receive the sacraments,
and carry out the church's mission in the world. In fact, the church teaches
that the laity are called to be “co- responsible” for the mission of the church.

 - Relevance: This refers to how significant or important something is, especially

in relation to a particular context. In this case, the relevance of the diaconate
in relation to the church and society can be both historical and in the present
day.

 - Ecclesiology: Refers to the study of the nature, structure, and purpose of the
Church, especially in Christian theology.
3
  - Remedial actions: These are actions taken to correct or remedy a situation,
especially in relation to social or political issues.

 - Historical-critical method: Refers to a method of biblical interpretation that

combines historical research with critical analysis to understand the text in its
original context.

 Hermeneutical analysis: Refers to the methodology of interpretation of

biblical texts, wisdom literature and philosophical texts.

 - Ecclesiastical means relating to the church or clergy. This includes but is not limited
to…

 Theology: Refers to the study of the nature of God and religious beliefs. In
this case, the study of the role and relevance of the diaconate in Catholic
theology.

 - Formation. In the context of the Catholic Church, formation refers to the

process of preparing candidates for the priesthood or diaconate. It involves
both spiritual and academic training, and is designed to prepare individuals for
their future ministry.
-
 Discernment: This refers to the process of prayerful reflection and decision-
making that candidates undergo during their formation. It is a way of
discerning whether a person is truly called to the priesthood or diaconate, and
involves guidance from a spiritual director (formator).

 - A Parish is a local unit of the Catholic Church, usually consisting of one or

more churches and their surrounding communities. Parishes are usually
overseen by a parish priest, who is responsible for the spiritual care of the
parishioners. The parish is the basic unit of organization in the Catholic
4
 Church, and it is where most people experience the church's ministry.
A Diocese is a larger region of the church that is overseen by a bishop.

 - A vicariate is a subdivision of a diocese, overseen by a vicar who is

appointed by the bishop. Vicariates are usually established to manage a large
or complex diocese, or to provide pastoral care to specific communities within
the diocese.

 - A vocation is a call from God to serve the church in a particular way. There
are many different types of vocations in the Catholic Church, including the
priesthood, religious life, and married life. For example, a person who feels
called to the priesthood is said to have a “priestly vocation.” Similarly, a
person who feels called to religious life is said to have a “religious vocation.”
The idea of vocation is that God calls each person to a particular way of life
that best suits their gifts and talents.

 - Consecrated life refers to the vocation of religious men and women who
have taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. These religious brothers
and sisters live in communities and devote their lives to prayer and service.
Some religious orders focus on specific works, such as teaching, nursing, or
serving the poor. The consecrated life is one of the most radical forms of
Christian discipleship, anddiscipleship and is considered a great gift to the
church.

 - An ecclesiastical territory is a large area of the church that is overseen by

an archbishop. An archbishop is a bishop who is given special authority to
govern a larger area, known as an archdiocese. The archbishop is assisted by
other bishops, who oversee smaller areas within the archdiocese, called
dioceses. So, an archdiocese is made up of multiple dioceses.
Ecclesial describes something relating to the church. For example, an ecclesial
gathering is a gathering that is affiliated with the church. Or, an ecclesial
document is a document produced by the church. The word "ecclesial" comes
from the Greek word "ekklesia," which means "assembly." It's often used to
describe things related to the universal church, as opposed to things that are
5
 related to a specific local church.

 An acolyte is an altar server, another layperson who has been appointed to

assist the priest at Mass. They perform a variety of duties, such as carrying
the cross, holding the book for the priest, ringing the bells, and other tasks.
Acolytes must be at least 18 years old and meet the same requirements as
lectors. They are also an important part of the liturgy, as they help the priest to
carry out the Mass.

 A lector is reader, a layperson who has been appointed by the bishop to

proclaim the readings from Scripture at Mass, other than the Gospel reading.
The lector must be a fully initiated Catholic (baptized, confirmed, and received
first communion) and be at least 16 years old. In addition, they must be
suitable and properly instructed for the role. Lectors are an important part of
the liturgy, as they help the congregation to hear and understand the Word of
God.

 Liturgy is the public worship of the church, and it includes the sacraments,
prayers, and rituals that are part of Catholic worship. The word liturgy comes
from the Greek word "leitourgia," which means "public service." So, the liturgy
is the way that the church serves the public and honors God through worship.
The liturgy is very important to the Catholic faith, and it is the way that the
community comes together to pray, reflect, and receive the sacraments.

Introduction

1.0 Background to the study

The Catholic Church decided 50 years ago to restore the permanent diaconate
whose ordination was permitted as of 1968 following a realization that the roles of the
deacons in Church were indispensable (Garnie, 2015). In 1965, some of the Council
Fathers of Vatican II, along with priests, the and laity, and protagonists of permanent
diaconate restoration, participated in the final session of the Second Vatican Council
and with the express blessing of Pope Paul VI, established the International
6
Diaconate Centre (IDC) Egan, 2013; Lamb & Levering, 2008; OP, 2007). This was a
momentous episode in the history of the Catholic Church, as the Second Vatican
Council brought about considerable reforms and changes in various aspects of
Church life.

During this final session, several important documents were promulgated. These
included the Church’s Constitution, Lumen Gentium (Paul VI, 1964) ,), the Pastoral
Constitution, Gaudium et Spes (Paul VI, 1965) that addresses the role of the Church
in the modern world in so far as bringing the message of the Gospel to contemporary
society is concerned, and the Religious Freedom Declaration, Dignitatis Humanae,
(Paul VI, 1965). In South African, the first permanent deacon was ordained in 1981.
As of 2015, there were about 43000 permanent deacons worldwide while in South
Africa there were about 23 (Garnie, 2015).

The following section examines the general historical context of diaconate in South
Africa. By understanding the historical context, the old-fashioned or historically-
etched roles of the diaconate can be matched against the perceived roles that the
permanent deacons of the Catholic Church may probably need to partake in order to
be salvaged as an order, and to be practically relevant in the modern South African
society. In section 1.3, I shall highlight that the role of deacons may not be well
understood by the general public, both within and outside the Catholic Church and
further assert in section 1.4 that the role of the deacon's wife is equally not fully
understood.

1.2. The genesis, identity, and servanthood of the diaconate ministry in a

contemporary South African context
Catholic deacons are ordained ministers who serve the Church in multifarious ways,
including assisting at mass, preaching, proclaiming the gospel with pastoral care.
Examples include, but are not limited to, visiting the sick and elderly, catechesis
instruction and faith formation, administering certain sacraments such as baptisms
and the distribution of the Eucharist, and performing other works of charity
(Cummings, 2004; Ditewig & Tkacik, 2010; Merkle & Ministries, 2010). They are often
involved in outreach to the marginalized and poor, thereby working to bring the love
and mercy of Christ to those in need. Deacons also play a vital role in fostering unity
7
within the Church, serving as a intermediariesmiddlemen between the congregants
(laity) and the clergy, and thus representing the needs and concerns of the
congregation to the church leadership (Cummings, 2004).

The deacon must be where the other clergy cannot be: in the family entity (the basic
unit of the Church); in the worldly social circles and forums; in general community life
in parishes and dioceses and in the schools, colleges and universities (Garnie,
2017). In other words, as a bridge between the Church and the world, the deacon
lives and works with and among the people, in the reality of the people and in so
doing he manifests Christ in that reality (SOPD – - Archdiocese of Johannesburg,
2023). A deacon is an evangelizer and his mission is to carry the light and preach the
Gospel to the secular world in which he lives and works.

The deacon is at the fore-front, an agent of Christ in the mission of a “new

evangelization”. Thise “new evangelization” refers to the efforts of the Catholic
Church to re-evangelize societies and individuals who have already been exposed to
the Gospel but have since become distant from their faith. RatherIn a sense, it is a
response to the changing cultural and social landscape, as well as the decline of
religious practice and belief in many parts of the world. Overall, the new
evangelization seeks to revitalize the Church and bring the message of Christ to a
world that is increasingly secular and indifferent to matters of faith.

The Deacon develops a prayer life and partakes of the sacramental life of the Church
in order to be strengthened for ministry. Because deacons are married family men,
being ordained to be messengers of the Gospel invariably makes them feel the
pressure of the Gospel’s demands and their busy private lives. Viewed from the
context and perspective of the Southern African “mission territory”, it is argued that
the inter gentes missionary theology can alleviate this inherent pressure (Scott,
2023). This theology, therefore, seeks to promote a holistic approach to mission,
taking into account the cultural, social, and spiritual dimensions of the people being
evangelized, while recognizing the diversity of human cultures and affirming the
value of cultural diversity within the universal Church.

The diaconate ministry is linked to the Diakonia of Jesus. A deacon lives among the

8
people and, as such, is actively present, participating in the same life conditions
experienced by the community he serves. Jesus also came to serve and save, as
stated in Mark 10:45. Jesus came to deacon and the services rendered by the
deacons in their ministry are a continuation of the service and mission of Jesus. The
attitude of the deacons should thus emulate the diakonia of Jesus. The nature of
diakonia consists in serving and empowering the powerless, as well as the brothers
and sisters in the communities they live in (Nordstrokke, 2011, p. 19–20).

Deacons are configured to Christ in his service role through ordination. The Church is
diakonal in nature since it serves the people of God by reaching out to the community
through the continuation of the mission of Jesus. The Church has servants who should
follow the teaching and mission of the Master, Jesus. In John 13:8, the servanthood nature
of Jesus is demonstrated through the washing of his disciples’ feet. The message given by
Jesus during the washing of the feet taught the disciples in a practical way how the role of
being a servant should be exercised. The actions of Jesus constitute diakonia and diakonia
forms an integral part of the Church’s identity and life. Deacons are called to serve within
the church’s life and

Diakonia is the visible drawing force of the Church’s Service. Jesus was a servant for all and
as such the same applies with permanent deacons who are called to be servants for all. The
diaconate ministry has at its heart servanthood which emphasises that deacons are called
to be servants of the ministries of Christ and also to be a servant for their brothers and
sisters (Detroit, 1987).
Deacons are ordained to serve and must give equal attention to all responsibilities,
especially those of justice and charity. Deacons should be given the opportunity to carry out
their responsibilities, as it has been observed that deacons who are not used by their
parishes become frustrated (Mcguire, N.D.).

Because the bishop of the local diocese will be able to assign deacons where they are
needed, it is preferable to classify deacons as part of the diocese's presbyterate rather than
as part of the national structure. It is recommended that deacons be allowed to administer
the sacrament of anointing of the sick because priests are not always available and to
alleviate the faithful's needs (Mcguire, N.D.).

9
Deacons are supposed to teach in words and deed as Jesus gave this example. The
serving of God’s people should be done with love and humanity. Jesus came to serve and
not to be served. Jesus taught about the love for the neighbour which deacons practice
through their responsibilities in the ministry. The serving of the people of God should be
enflamed by the deacons’ love of God and the love for the neighbour. The deacon in serving
the people of God and the Church volunteers his skills and expertise. He is resolved to
serve freely and unconditionally (Van Dam, 2016: 37).

Viewed from the context and perspective of the Southern African “mission territory”, it
is argued that the inter gentes missionary theology can alleviate this inherent
pressure alluded to in the foregoing paragraph (Scott, 2023). This theology seeks to
promote a holistic approach to mission, taking into account the cultural, social, and
spiritual dimensions of the people being evangelized, while recognizing the diversity
of human cultures and affirming the value of cultural diversity within the universal
Church. It is evident that deacons are critically important in the Catholic Church and
restoring their relevance is equally critically important (Brown, 2005; Lennan & Kelly,
1997; Osborne, 2007).

10
1.3 The deacons’ wives: Do they have any role in the Church?
The deacon ought to develop a prayer life and partakes in the sacramental life of the
church in order to be strengthened for ministry. Notwithstanding this, deacons are
married family men and being ordained to be messengers of the Gospel invariably
makes them feel the pressure of the Gospel’s demands and their busy private lives.
This pressure is inherently alleviated by his wife. Who continuously support the
Deacon. The wives of deacons are not ordained, nor do they get any special
recognition within the church. Their role is more important as their support to the
Deacons makes them available to serve the people of God.

1.4 The Catholic deacons in modern South Africa

Due to limited understanding (lack of education on pertinent matters of the Catholic
Church) and diaconal visibility, the role of deacons may not be well understood by
the general public, both within and outside the Catholic Church (Ditewig, 2007;
Klaasen, 2020; Tito, 2010). This lack of understanding can lead to a perception of
deacons as less relevant or necessary. Coupled with the changing social, economic,
geo-political and technological landscapes in modern day South Africa, the South
African populace has evolved in rates and magnitudes which have rendered the
traditional roles of deacons inadequate to address current societal challenges
(Coertze, 2007; Elphick et al., 1997).

The deaconate is not well developed, or at least not well understood, within a
contemporary South African ecclesiastical context. As such, this study posits that the
diaconal ministry has become irrelevant today in the eyes of the general public
(Cummings, 2004). I will argue in this study that in light of the faltering diaconal
relevance, various salvaging strategies are possible.

1.5 Problem statement

Today, the perception of relevance of the diaconate in the context of South African
Catholic Church varies among Catholics, non-Catholics and communities (Ferrari,
2015, 2017; Pivonka, 1985; Segers, 2004). However, there is a notable decline in the
number of men who wish to become permanent Catholic deacons in South Africa.
This could be a culmination of the perceived declining role of the diaconate in
modern day South African Catholic Church. Naturally, there must have been a lot of
11
transition in terms of the roles of the permanent deacons since pre-Vatican II to
Vatican II and beyond.

I could find very little, if any, literature which evidences that the relevance of the
permanent deacons has been extensively studied in light of the aforesaid transition.
The decline in number of permanent South African deacons in the Catholic Church
and thus their perceived declining relevance and adaptability in the 21st century is a
subject that requires historical critical examination.

It is, therefore, apparent that unearthing the factors behind the decline in the
diaconate’s relevance today is a crucial step in restoring the diaconate ministry in
modern South Africa. As such, this study seeks to unravel the afore-mentioned
factors and then suggest probable remedial actions that will potentially help salvage
the diaconate’s relevance in South Africa.

It is proposed that these tasks shall be done by interrogating the existing Catholic
policy documents, historical and current catholic literature, and otherany relevant
literature that deals with the establishment, life and ministry of the Church’s
permanent deacons, including any current developments in South Africa.

To a larger extent, findings of this study will positively contribute to the body of
literature on permanent deacons, including remedial salvaging of the diaconate
ministry.

1.6 Significance of the study

South Africa has undergone significant social and cultural changes over the years.
Investigating the relevance of permanent deacons in this context helps to determine
if their roles and responsibilities align with the current needs and expectations of the
local community, vis-à-vis, their effectiveness in serving and connecting with the
diverse population, taking into account the changing demographics South Africa.
Moreover, the pastoral needs of the Catholic Church have evolved over time and
thus, investigating the relevance of deacons should go a long way in helping to
assess if they adequately address the social, spiritual, and emotional needs of the
12
faithful and the changing societal dynamics in South Africa today. To a larger extent,
findings of this study will positively contribute to the body of literature on permanent
deacons, including remedial salvaging of the diaconate ministry.

13
 1.7 The aims and objectives of the study

1.7.1Aim of the study

The main aim of this study is to establish the factors that cause the Catholic
diaconate ministry in South Africa to be irrelevant today and to suggest three
possible remedial actions. These remedial actions are pastoral integration and
collaboration with other ministries; encouraging open dialogue and reflection; and
establishment of support diaconate structures.

1.7.2 Specific objectives of the study

The objectives of this study are as follows:
1. To document diaconate ordination trends and decipher factors affecting the
decline (or otherwise) in numbers of ordained permanent deacons.
2. To probe any institutional (or otherwise) problems that may hinder the
smooth and unrestricted execution of diaconal duties in the Catholic Church.
3. To suggest three remedial actions in light of objectives (1) and (2).

1.8 Delimitations
The study shall restrict its investigation to specially selected historical and current
catholic literature: text books, the Vatican/papal documents (apostolic constitutions,
speeches, apostolic exhortations apostolic letters, encyclicals, homilies) websites,
scholarly articles, etc. Selection of primary sources for use in this study shall
intuitively depend on the specific objectives set out in this study.

1.9[1.7] Thesis
As alluded in section 1.4, this mini-dissertation’s thesis is that the diaconate ministry
in the contemporary Catholic Church of South Africa has become irrelevant today.
This study shall seek to check the veracity of this assertion using historical criticism
method.

CHAPTER 2
2.0 Preliminary literature review
2.1 The genesis, fall and restoration of diaconal ministry in the Catholic Church

14
In the Catholic Church, there are transitional deacons and permanent deacons.
Transitional deacons attend seminars, preparing for eventual ordination to the
priesthood. Whereas permanent deacons are those ordained deacons who remain
permanently in the order of deacons. It is worth noting that both the transactional and
permanent deacons perform the same duties (Bressica University, 2013). Diakonia
refers work of mediation or activity done on behalf of another person. A deacon is a
messenger or intermediary, not necessarily a humble servant or assistant. In the
early Church, a deacon was a local community leader with significant roles in the
liturgy, working as a go-between that served individual members, other ministers and
communities (Collins, 2009).

The Catholic Church holds the diaconate ministry in high regard amongst other, the
different ministries, and the existence of deacons can be traced back to the apostolic
ageera. The Apostle Paul provides clear testimony to this in both Philippians 1:1, in
which he sends greetings to both the bishops and the deacons, and in 1 Timothy 3:8
to 13, in which he highlights the merits and standards that deacons should have in
order to qualify as ministers of the word (LA Catholics, 2023). The history of the
diaconate notes certain deacons who are famous on the basis of their faith and
services in the ministry. The specific deacons, to mention a few, were St. Francis, St.
Laurens, and St. Ephrem of Edessa. St. Francis was well known for caring for the
poor and preaching. St. Laurence had a good relationship with the bishop and was
interested in assisting the poor, whom he called the "treasures of the church. His
love and care for the poor were done until he was martyred. St. Ephrem of Edessa,
whose life example was applauded and had a significant influence in the church. He
was ordained to the priesthood and further ordained as a bishop after two days of his
priestly ordination. The faith and dedication to the ministry shown by these deacons
serve as a model for other deacons (Ditewig, 2014).

The history of the diaconate notes certain deacons who are famous on the basis of
their faith and services in the ministry. The specific deacons, to mention a few, were
St. Francis of Assisi, St. Laurens, and St. Ephrem of Edessa. St. Francis was well
known for caring for the poor and preaching. St. Laurence had a good relationship
with the bishop and was interested in assisting the poor, whom he called the

15
"treasures of
Then, the deacons in the Latin Church dropped significantly during the fourth century
as a result of the presbyteries transformation. They no longer served as personal
staff to the bishop. They helped the presbyters, whose role replaced that of the
bishop in the diocese's parish. The failure to define the deacons' roles and
responsibilities also contributed to the decline of the diaconate.

The office of deacon was abandoned in the Western Church from the AD 475–1475
(the Middle Ages) to the post World War II era (1939–1955). The Eastern Catholic
Churches did not experience any interruption, as deacons were always an important
part of the ordained ministry (LA Catholics, 2023).

The reasons for the historic decline and disappearance of the deacon ministry are of
particular importance to evaluating the level of maintaining a functional diaconate in
the contemporary Church (Donze, 2018; International Theological Commission,
2002).

Upon the recommendation of the Fathers of the Second Vatican II, Pope Paul VI
restored the permanent deacon ministry on 18 June 1967. During November 1995,
The Congregation for the Clergy and The Congregation for Catholic Education
deliberated on the issue permanent deacons after sufficient consultation of the
Episcopate and other experts. On 22 February 1998, Pope John Paul II approved the
Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Diaconorum Permanentium, which was both a
guideline for the formation of permanent deacons and a directive of which due
account was to be taken by the Episcopal Conferences (LA Catholics, 2023).

The restoration of the diaconate ministry by the Vatican Council was a high priority
for the church. The diaconate ministry, among other responsibilities, was to care for
the souls of the people. The restoration of the diaconate was open to married men of
mature age (Ditewig 2014, 32–33). The driving force behind the restoration of the
ministry was based on the identity and servant nature of the Church. The clergy
agreed that the deaconate should conform to the sacramental sign of Christ the
servant in order to become a more effective witness to the love of God. The deacons
worked in close collaboration with priests as a way of increasing the population of

16
clergy who could bring joy and salvation to the needy in this period when priest
population was dwindling. The deaconate ministry reflects the Church's nature as a
servant of God (Donze, 2018).

2.2Deacons’ roles and their unique identity

In the early Church, the responsibilities of deacons were to ‘serve’ within the meeting
tent, and to uphold and defend the Ark of the Covenant, the Law and the People of
Israel. This responsibility was exhibited when the showed solidarity with Moses in the
destruction of the golden calf idol (Ex 32:25-29) and this responsibility is mirrored by
present day deacons in serving the Church and defending the values of the Church.

The deacon is ordained to three integrated responsibilities: ministry of word,

sacrament, and charity. The responsibilities are balanced and integrated and are not
separated. The deacon’s sacramental significance is best understood in context with
the sacramental communion that exists between deacons, priests, and bishops
(Ditewig, 2014). The deacons' services take many forms, as the parish needs are not
always the same. In addition to the three forms of service commonly mentioned, the
deacons’ work with the parish priest and staff to identify specific needs of the parish.
The responsibilities of the deacon may extend to training lay teams to perform certain
functions at the parish, such as training readers, catechists, sodalities, youth, and
extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. As such, the above ecclesiastical roles and
tasks of deacons and the principles underlying their service and work within and
outside the congregation especially helping the needy and the poor are of central
significance to the Church (Breed, 2018) .

. The deacon’s sacramental significance is best understood in context with the

sacramental communion that exists between deacons, priests, and bishops (Ditewig,
2014). The deacons' services take many forms, as the parish needs are not always
the same. In addition to the three forms of service commonly mentioned, the
deacons’ work with the parish priest and staff to identify specific needs of the parish.

The servanthood and dignity of the diaconate are not known by everyone, and this
17
aspect needs to be corrected by informing the laity in particular about the ministry.
Deacons should be allowed to perform their role without any difficulties. The directory
for pastoral ministry of Bishops Number 93 deals with the functions and offices
entrusted to permanent deacons. Though some of the tasks that are performed by
the deacons can be performed by the laity, it remains important to note that when
those duties are performed by a deacon, they are diaconal (Rice, 2022). Similarly,
Suprenant (2019) clarifies the reasons for the restoration of the permanent diaconate
and further indicates that the unique identity and role of the diaconate should not be
confused or misunderstood. The laity cannot be a substitute for the diaconate
ministry (Suprenant, 2019).

The duties of the deacon link to the functions that were performed by Christ. As
Christ himself made it known that he had come to serve and not to be served, the
deacon follows in the footsteps of Christ by serving his brothers and sisters. The
ministry of the diaconate is an example of the sacramental sign of Christ, who came
to serve. Diaconal spirituality is the same as that of Jesus, the servant who lived total
at the service of God for the good of all people. (Basic norms for the formation of
permanent Vatican city, 1998).
As Paul proclaims in 1 Tim. 3:8-12, deacons’ qualifications should include being
respectful, sincere, honest, respectable, not double-tongued, non-drunkard, non-
greedy, blameless faithful husband, and a responsible father (Merkle & Ministries,
2010; The BibleStudyTools Staff, 2019). When serving the people of God, the
deacon should be influenced by service rather than power, following the example of
Jesus. One’s involvement in the ministry of the Church is manifest through
obedience and sacramental observance (Ditewig, 2014). Despite not being spiritual
leaders of the congregation, the personality of deacons is fundamentally vital (Merkle
& Ministries, 2010), and it is the reason they should be vetted to so see if they
conform to expected values worthy of a deacon as laid down in 1 Timothy 3.
3.0 Research methodology

3.1. Research materials

In this context, historical criticism was be used to study the Catholic literature and
other Christian writings to gain insight into the purpose and ministry early Catholic
Church diaconate (Barton, 1994; Fitzmyer, 1989; Stuhlmacher, 2003). This approach
helped to shed light on the historical and cultural factors that influenced the formation
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of the diaconate, its functions, and its relationship to the broader Church community.
Here are steps that were followed in applying historical criticism method in this
context:

1. Historical context: This study began by examining the historical context of the
Catholic Church and the role of deacons within it. It explored the origins of the
diaconate, its development over time, and any significant changes or challenges it
has faced.

2. Primary sources: Primary sources such as historical documents, official church

documents, papal encyclicals, and decrees related to the diaconate were engaged
with. These sources provided insights into the original purpose and relevance of
deacons in the Catholic Church.

3. Historical analysis: Historical data to identify key factors that contributed to the
faltering relevance of the Catholic deacons were analysed. Patterns, shifts in societal
norms, changes in the role of clergy, or any other factors that may have influenced
the diminishing importance of deacons were looked into.

4. Comparative analysis: Historical role and relevance of deacons were compared

with those of other clergy members within the Catholic Church, such as priests and
bishops so as to identify similarities and differences in their roles and responsibilities,
and explore how these differences may have affected the perception of deacons'
relevance.

Chapter 4: Research findings and discussion

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