The Christian understanding of ministry begins with service. In the Acts of the Apostles, the early community faced the practical challenge of ensuring that vulnerable widows were not overlooked when food was distributed. The response was to choose trusted people to take responsibility for this work.
The word diakonos is associated with service or ministry. The appointment of the seven in Acts is often understood as an important moment in the development of diaconal ministry: prayer and the laying on of hands commissioned people to serve the community’s needs.
Service at the table
In Christian life, care for those who are poor or overlooked is not separate from worship. Service at the table expresses the same faith celebrated in prayer and the Eucharist.
The ministry of deacons has developed across the history of the Church. In the Catholic Church, the permanent diaconate was restored following the Second Vatican Council. Deacons serve alongside bishops and priests, and may assist at liturgies, proclaim the Gospel, preach, baptise, witness marriages and support people in need according to the Church’s norms.
Three tables of service
A helpful way to describe diaconal ministry is through service to the Word of God, the Eucharistic table and the table of the poor. These dimensions remind the community that faith is lived both in worship and in concrete care for others.
This is an original summary for the static reconstruction, not a verbatim reproduction of the source article.