What is a transitional deacon?

On June 9, 1985, I was ordained a transitional deacon. What does this “transitional” imply? Following four years of college and three more years at the major seminary, I was called to holy orders by the Bishop of Metuchen. A bishop only calls a man to become a transitional deacon if it is his intention that following one year as a deacon, he would then ordain this man to the priesthood.

For most transitional deacons, this year is a pastoral, liturgical and educational preparation period for the priesthood. You see, when considering the sacrament of holy orders, there are three degrees of the sacrament: deacon, priest, bishop.

Entering the fi rst level of holy orders, the bishop authorized the following “faculties,” or “permissions.” I was called to assist the presider of the Mass by invoking God’s mercy during the Penitential Rite. After the "Alleluia verse," I was called to proclaim the Gospel. At the discretion of the pastor to whom I was assigned, I could be asked to deliver the homily. At the Prayer of the Faithful, I was called to offer up the petitions. At the Sign of Peace, I was called to elicit the exchange of peace with each other.

During Communion, it was my responsibility to be a Minister of the Cup.Following the Prayer After Communion, it was my role to dismiss the people with these or other permissible dismissals: “Go in peace, the Mass is ended.”

There are three promises made by the transitional deacon: to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, Obedience and Celibacy. The Liturgy of the Hours isalso known as the "Breviary." This prayer, consisting of three psalms, a reading from Scripture and petitions, is a participation in the Perpetual Liturgy going on in Heaven. At the same time, through the Breviary, we sanctify the secular hours of the day and night on earth.

Both permanent and transitional deacons make a promise to obey their bishop and his successors.

Unlike the permanent deacons, most of whom are married, I had to promise my bishop to embrace celibacy. This means that I have to forego any exclusive relationships in order to love the Church with my whole being as if she were my spouse, the mother of my children. Permanent deacons are ordained and usually practice their diaconal ministry at their home parishes for an indefi nite pe-

riod of time, usually until their retirement.

Transitional deacons, on the other hand, are assigned by the bishop to a parish anywhere in the diocese, normally for a term of offi ce, be it anywhere from three months to a year. Most transitional deacons have to return to the seminary for their fourth and final year of theology.

Transitional deacons cannot hear confessions, anoint the sick or confi rm. They do have faculties to baptize, to officiate ata simple nuptial ceremony and to conduct the Rite of Committal at the cemetery (internment in the ground or entombment in a mausoleum) following the funeral at the Church.

Father Comandini has a doctorate in theology from the Pontifi cal GregorianUniversity in Rome. He has taught theology at Seton Hall University, the College of St. Elizabeth and St. John’s University.

Transitional deacons...are assigned by the bishop to a parish anywhere in the diocese, normally for a term of office...from three months to a year.

From left, Deacon Gustavo Rodriguez-Perez, Deacon Thomas Lanza and Deacon Gilbert Starcher pose in the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center chapel, Piscataway. They were ordained to the transitional diaconate June 15 at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen. — Tara Smith photo