In a Catholic Liturgy, the deacon serves as herald, an emissary and so much more
Briefly
- A Catholic deacon is not just an assistant at Mass but a herald of the Gospel and an emissary of Christ’s love, bridging the altar and the world.
- From proclaiming the Gospel to serving the poor, a deacon’s ministry flows from his identity as a servant-leader called to mediate divine charity.
- The deacon’s role in the Church extends beyond liturgy, encompassing the sacraments, acts of charity and guiding the faithful to deeper communion with Christ.
When most Catholics see a deacon at Mass, they might think, “There’s Father’s wingman — there to help out when needed.”
It’s a common misconception, but one that sells short the depth and richness of the diaconate.
As Deacon Eric Cooley, director of The Saint Paul Seminary Institute for Diaconate Formation, puts it, there’s a belief that the deacon is “some guy that’s doing stuff so Father doesn’t have to, right? Father’s assistant. Fr. Lite. But they’re separate charisms. Doing flows from being.”
In other words, a deacon isn’t simply an extra set of hands at the altar. His role flows from his actual identity — a man ordained to be a herald of the Gospel and an emissary of Christ’s love to the world. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1570) puts it, “Deacons share in Christ’s mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint (‘character’) which cannot be removed and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the ‘deacon’ or servant of all.”
“Our ministry flows from the altar. We take the fruit of what we receive there and go out and mediate divine charity.” — Deacon Eric Cooley, Saint Paul Seminary Institute for Diaconate Formation director
A herald at the altar: The deacon’s role during Mass
The most visible place many Catholics encounter a deacon is during Mass. Yet what may seem like a series of logistical duties — reading the Gospel, setting the altar, ministering Communion to the faithful — are, in fact, deeply symbolic and rooted in the deacon’s identity.
Proclaiming the Gospel
One of the deacon’s most distinct roles is proclaiming the Gospel during Mass. Regardless of who presides —whether a parish priest, a bishop, or even the Pope — it is the deacon who reads the Gospel aloud.
“At ordination, the bishop hands the newly ordained deacon the book of the Gospels,” Deacon Cooley explains. “He says, ‘Receive the book of the Gospels, whose herald you have become.’”
This act isn’t simply ceremonial — it’s a commissioning. The deacon becomes a living voice of the Word, echoing Christ’s own mission to proclaim good news to the poor.
Bridging the altar and the people
After the Gospel, the deacon leads the Universal Prayers, or Prayers of the Faithful.
“It’s the role of an emissary, a go-between,” Cooley said. “He’s the one that’s been out with the people, hearing their needs, walking with them. It’s proper for him to bring them into this liturgical setting.”
The deacon also prepares the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist — a role that carries deep symbolism.
“The deeper thing happening there is that [the people in the pews] are being placed on the altar,” Cooley said. “We’re offering ourselves and asking the Lord to join Himself to us.”
Minister of Holy Communion and sending forth
The deacon serves as an ordinary minister of Holy Communion, especially with the chalice — the Precious Blood. And at the end of Mass, it’s the deacon who offers the dismissal: “Go forth, the Mass has ended” or “Go and proclaim the Gospel of the Lord.”
“That ‘go’ is very diaconal,” said Cooley, who is the director of The Saint Paul Seminary’s permanent deacon formation program. “Our ministry flows from the altar. We take the fruit of what we receive there and go out and mediate divine charity.”
The deacon sends the Church into the world, continuing the mission that began at the altar.
The deacon’s role beyond Mass
The deacon’s vocation extends beyond the sanctuary into the broader life of the Church.
- Baptism, marriage and funerals: Deacons are authorized to baptize, welcoming new members into the Church. They can officiate at weddings, witnessing the sacrament on behalf of the Church. They also lead funeral services, offering prayers of commendation and comfort to grieving families — standing as signs of Christ’s mercy and hope.
- A ministry of service and charity: At the heart of the diaconate is the “ministry of charity.” Deacons are called to serve the poor, the marginalized and the forgotten. This isn’t an “extra” part of their role — it’s central to their identity, reflecting Christ who “came not to be served, but to serve.” Deacons also often lead prayer services, assist in catechesis and guide others in deepening their faith, always bridging the Church and the world.
Christ’s emissary
The Catholic deacon is so much more than an assistant at the altar. He is a herald of the Gospel, an emissary of the Church and a servant who brings Christ to the world and the world to Christ.
“We take the fruit of what we receive at the altar and go out and mediate divine charity,” Cooley said.