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Deacons Entrusted with the Pastoral Care of a Parish According to Canon 517.2

by Mark M. Gray, Ph.D.
July 6, 2008

The number of parishes entrusted to deacons under Canon 517.2 has been steadily rising over the past fifteen years. Project studies conducted by CARA indicated significant differences between deacons and others who served PLCs and so an analysis of those differences has been developed.

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Studies of the Emerging Models Project over the past five years have given a very significant portrait of the role of the parish life coordinator.  The research, conducted by CARA, has indicated the importance of the participation of the bishop in the installation and ongoing work of the PLC.   They have recognized the implications of the ability of the deacon to provide some of the sacramental and liturgical ministry in this role.  Further study has indicated the similarities and differences of deacon PLCs from their religious and lay counterparts.  Below is a portion of the executive summary.  The full report is available here. 

Executive Summary, Part I

  • Deacon PLCs are older and more likely to be married than lay person PLCs
    (excluding men and women religious serving as PLCs). Ninety-one percent of deacon PLCs are married compared to 55 percent of lay person PLCs. Fifty-four percent of deacon PLCs are age 61 or older compared to only 20 percent of lay person PLCs.

 

  • Deacon PLCs are more likely than other PLCs to self-identify as African American or black (11 percent compared to 2 percent) and the parishioners at parishes entrusted to deacon PLCs are also more likely than the parishioners at parishes entrusted to other PLCs to be predominately (50 percent or more) black or African American (10 percent compared to 5 percent).

 

  • Nearly all deacon PLCs have attended at least some college. However, they are less likely than other PLCs to have a college degree (72 percent compared to 97 percent).

 

  • Deacon PLCs are less likely than other PLCs to have a written job description for their position (66 percent compared to 85 percent), a formal installation ceremony (35 percent compared to 67 percent), or a contract (43 percent compared to 55 percent).

 

  • Deacon PLCs are more likely than other PLCs to spend "very much" time preparing homilies (61 percent compared to 21 percent) and presiding at Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest (34 percent compared to 11 percent), prayer services for the sick (28 percent compared to 17 percent), funerals (38 percent compared to 27 percent), and baptisms (44 percent compared to 18 percent).

 

  • Deacon PLCs are much more likely than other PLCs to do the following at Mass: wear vestments (99 percent compared to 16 percent), process in with the presider (96 percent compared to 45 percent), preach (94 percent compared to 35 percent), and remain in the sanctuary (91 percent compared to 32 percent).

 

  • Deacon PLCs are much more likely than all other PLCs to agree "very much" that they are the "sacramental leader" of the parish (41 percent compared to 16 percent) and less likely to agree similarly that they are the "pastoral leader" of the parish (77 percent compared to 86 percent).

 

  • Deacon PLCs are less likely than other PLCs to have received specialized training for their role as a PLC before (38 percent compared to 52 percent) or after (29 percent compared to 44 percent) their appointment.

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This material is intended for the benefit of the national Church and may be copied.  However, all material created by or for the Emerging Models Project is copyrighted for the Partners by the National Association for Lay Ministry. It's use is governed by the 'f'air use' provisions of the Copyright Act of 1976.

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