Permanent Diaconate

Permanent Deacon Formation Program

A Call to Service

In the early Church we hear of seven men being called to serve at table. Their ministry is called diakonia in Greek. Among other things, these men of service became the eyes and ears of the Bishop, keeping him and the community of faith informed of the social issues that faced the Church.

The Second Vatican Council reinstated the Diaconate as a permanent order within the Church. Men ordained to the deaconate become members of the clergy and are charged with the mission of the Church. The ministry of a deacon is three-fold: ministry of the Word, ministry of the Table, and ministry of Charity. Each gift finds its’ source of growth at the Table of the Eucharist. Each gift finds its’ mission fulfilled in works of charity, leading the faithful to fulfill the mission of Jesus, the Christ.

Currently, the Diocese of Cheyenne enjoys the ministry of sixteen deacons. Most serve in parish settings on a "part-time" basis. However, they are full-time in the sense that they are a sacramental presence of Christ wherever they are-at work, at play, or in some formal ministerial capacity within the parish. Other deacons serve in "full-time" ministry: diocesan personnel, school principal, or parish pastoral minister.

Diaconate Discernment Retreat:

If you would like to know more about ordained ministry as a deacon, feel free to call, write, or e-mail me, Fr. Ray Rodriguez (rrodriguez@dioceseofcheyenne.org). A retreat for men, and if married, their wives, who are interested in the ordained ministry of deacon, is periodically held in Casper, Wyoming. Please contact Fr. Ray Rodriguez for registration information.

The following website is the National Office for the Permanent Diaconate in the United States. It may be of help to you in further exploring the ministry of deacon. www.nccbuscc.org/deacon/index.htm