diaconate
Church service order
The diaconate is the office or rank of deacon in Christian churches—the lowest of the three major orders of ordained ministry, below priest and bishop.
It also refers collectively to deacons as a body: The permanent diaconate has grown significantly since Vatican II.
The term covers both transitional deacons (preparing for priesthood) and permanent deacons who remain in that order.
Clergy appointment ceremony
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- laying on of handsRitual healing through touch
- chrismConsecrated anointing substance
- anointingCeremonial oil application
vocation · seminary · formation · candidacy · discernment · holy orders · rite · installation
Sacred ritual table
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- stoleTook without permission
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
- patenEucharistic bread dish
censer · procession · liturgy · sacrament · benediction · invocation · lectionary · chancel
Minor clerical rank
- presbyterOrdained church elder
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- clericOrdained religious leader
acolyte · lector · cantor · seminarian · ordinand · curate · vicar · rector
Voluntary aid for others
- almsgivingGiving to the needy
- ministryClergy's work or state department
- outreachProactive community assistance
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
poor · sick · widows · orphans · hospitality · distribution · welfare · compassion
ordination
Clergy appointment ceremony
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- laying on of handsRitual healing through touch
- chrismConsecrated anointing substance
anointing · vocation · seminary · formation · candidacy · discernment · holy orders · rite · installation · commissioning
altar
Sacred ritual table
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- stoleTook without permission
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
paten · censer · procession · liturgy · sacrament · benediction · invocation · lectionary · chancel · sacristy
subdeacon
Minor clerical rank
cleric · acolyte · lector · cantor · seminarian · ordinand · curate · vicar · rector · chaplain
charity
Voluntary aid for others
- almsgivingGiving to the needy
- ministryClergy's work or state department
- outreachProactive community assistance
visitation · poor · sick · widows · orphans · hospitality · distribution · welfare · compassion · social justice
- Catholic ChurchVatican, papacy, cardinals, popes, papal
- Church Bodiesarchdiocese, diocese, dioceses, bishopric, parishes
- ministrypreaching, pastoral care, teaching, chaplaincy, youth ministry
- sacramentsbaptism, christening, confirmation, communion, matrimony
- vocationcalling, vocation, divine calling, priesthood, religious life
- church structurearchdioceses, episcopacy, bishoprics, episcopate, dioceses
diaconatepriesthood
Ordained religious office
episcopate · bishopric · papacy · episcopacy · archbishopric
diaconatelaity
Non-ordained church members
congregation · secular state · secular life · laypeople · parishioners