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A deacon is the first of the major Orders: Deacon, Priest, and Bishop. Every priest is first ordained a deacon, usually the year before his ordination to the priesthood. Nowadays, there are permanent deacons who do not go on to the priesthood. A deacon, either the transitional deacon (the first) or the permanent deacon (the second) are required to make a vow of lifelong celibacy, which means that they will never marry (note: permanent deacons may be married when they are ordained, but if anything happens to their wife, they may not remarry.)

Deacons may baptize and witness marriages, they are authorized to proclaim the Gospel at Mass, and they may preach. A deacon wears a stole but instead of around his shoulders, he wears it over one shoulder and then crossed across his chest and back, and tied low down on the side.

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11y ago

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