The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1570-1571 states:
“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. Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity.

Since the Second Vatican Council, the Latin Church has restored the diaconate “as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy,” while the Churches of the East had always maintained it. This permanent diaconate, which can be conferred on married men, constitutes an important enrichment for the Church's mission. Indeed it is appropriate and useful that men who carry out a truly diaconal ministry in the Church, whether in its liturgical and pastoral life or whether in its social and charitable works, should “be strengthened by the imposition of hands which has come down from the apostles. They would be more closely bound to the altar and their ministry would be made more fruitful through the sacramental grace of the diaconate”

Who is a Deacon?
To understand who is a deacon, we need to look at the three areas of service they are called to:
● Ministry of the Word,
● Ministry of the Liturgy,
● Ministry of Charity.

Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, deacons can preach, baptize, assist at the Mass, and witness marriages. However, deacons do so much more. Deacons are ordained to not only attend to the religious needs of people; they are specially ordained to attend to their human needs. Living out and promoting the Church’s teachings on social justice is a key part of being a deacon.

Above all, a permanent deacon is a servant. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, deacons proclaim the Gospel message not just at church, but in the community as well. A deacon shows by word and example the love of neighbor as oneself through humble service in the image of Christ the Servant.