The Introductory Rite
The Liturgy of the Word
The Rite of Ordination
The Election of the Candidates:
- The Call: When all has been prepared, the candidates are called forward by the Deacon of the Call. In this case, we simply stood when I name was called, indicated that we were present and then bowed to the bishop.
Deacon: Let those to be ordained Deacons come forward.
- The Presentation of the Candidates: The candidates are presented to the bishop by the Diocesan Director for the Permanent Diaconate with an indication that we have been found worthy.
Priest: Most Reverend Father, holy Mother Church asks you to ordain these, our brothers, to the responsibility of the Diaconate.
Bishop: Do you know them to be worthy?
Priest: After inquiry among the Christian people and upon the recommendation of those responsible, I testify that they have been found worthy.
- The Election by the Bishop and the Consent of the People: The congregation expresses its assent to the choice by applause.
Bishop: Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose these, our brothers, for the Order of the Diaconate.
All: Thanks be to God. [Applause]
The Homily and Instruction:
The Promise of The Elect:
In a series of questions the Bishop asks the elect to express their desire and willingness to be ordained as a deacon and to fulfill the responsibilities that come with Ordination. Unmarried elect make the choice to remain celibate for the sake of the Kingdom in lifelong service to God and the Church.
Bishop: Dear sons, before you enter the Order of the Diaconate you must declare before the people your intention to undertake this office. Do you resolve to be consecrated for the Church’s ministry by the laying on of my hands and the gift of the Holy Spirit?
Elect: I do.
Bishop: Do you resolve to discharge the office of Deacon with humble charity in order to assist the priestly Order and to benefit the Christian people?
Elect: I do.
Bishop: Do you resolve to hold fast to the mystery of faith with a clear conscience, as the Apostle urges, and to proclaim this faith in word and deed according to the Gospel and the Church’s tradition?
Elect: I do.
Bishop: Do you resolve to maintain and deepen the spirit of prayer that is proper to your way of life and, in keeping with this spirit and what is required of you, to celebrate faithfully the Liturgy of the Hours with and for the People of God and indeed for the whole world?
Elect: I do.
Bishop: Do you resolve to conform your way of life always to the example of Christ, of whose Body and Blood you are a ministers at the altar?
Elect: I do with the help of God.
After having made these promises, since the Deacon serves under the authority of the Bishop, those to be ordained go before the Bishop and make a promise of obedience and respect to their Ordinary Bishop and the Bishop’s successors. As each does so, he kneels before the Bishop and places his hands between those of the Bishop. 
Bishop: Do you promise respect and obedience to me and my successors?
Elect: I do.
Bishop: May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.
The Litany of Supplication:
The candidates prostrate themselves as the congregation prays the Litany of the Saints on their behalf. Prostration, which means laying face down before God, is an ancient posture showing both the donation by the candidate of their life to God and His Church, as well as supplication, which is asking God the grace to live his life for God and His Church.
One by one, the candidates go to the bishop and kneel before him. The bishop lays his hands on the head of each in silence. The laying on of hands, an ancient sign of Ordination, represents the most solemn moment of the Ordination rite. During the ceremony, the Bishop prays silently over the elect for the gift of the Holy Spirit. All join the Bishop in silent prayer for the elect. The laying on of hands and the prayer of ordination which follows constitute the essential elements of the sacrament of Holy Orders.Prayer of Ordination:
With his hands extended over the candidates, the bishop recites the prayer of ordination, whereby the candidates are ordained deacons. At the conclusion of the prayer, the congregation responds by saying: Amen.
Draw near, we pray, Almighty God, giver of every grace,
who apportion every order and assign every office;
who remain unchanged, but make all things new.
In your eternal providence,
you make provision for every age,
as you order all creation through him who is your word,
your power and your wisdom,
Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
You grant that the Church, his Body,
adorned with manifold heavenly graces,
drawn together in the diversity of its members,
and united by a wondrous bond through the Holy Spirit,
should grow and spread forth to build up a new temple and,
as once you chose the sons of Levi to minister in the former tabernacle,
so now you establish three ranks of ministers
in their sacred offices to serve in your name.
And so, in the first days of your Church,
through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
your Son’s Apostles appointed seven men of good repute
to assist them in the daily ministry,
that they might devote themselves more fully
to prayer and preaching of the word.
By prayer and the laying on of hands
they entrusted to these chosen men
the ministry of serving at table.
We beseech you, Lord:
look with favor on these servants of yours
who will minister at your holy altar
and whom we now humbly dedicate
to the office of Deacon.
Send forth upon him, Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit,
that they may be strengthened by the gift of your sevenfold grace
for the faithful carrying out of the work of the ministry.
May there abound in them every Gospel virtue:
unfeigned love, concern for the sick and poor,
unassuming authority, the purity of innocence,
and the observance of spiritual discipline.
May your commandments shine forth in their conduct,
so that by the example of their way of life
they may inspire the imitation of your holy people.
In offering the witness of a clear conscience,
may they remain strong and steadfast in Christ,
so that by imitating on earth your Son,
who came not to be served but to serve,
they may be found worthy to reign in heaven with him,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Investiture with stole and dalmatic:
The newly ordained deacons remain standing and the deacon wives bring forward their stole and dalmatic, symbols of their new office in the Church, where the vesting clergy assists the new deacons with their new vestments.The Handing on of the Book of Gospels:
The newly ordained deacon goes to the bishop and kneels before him. The bishop presents the Book of the Gospels to the deacon, saying "Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach."
The Kiss of Peace:
The newly ordained are greeted by the other deacons present as a sign of welcome and fraternity within the Order of the Diaconate. (We now resume our regular Mass programming).
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Presentation of the Gifts:
The bishop receives the gifts of bread and wine from the deacon wives.The Communion Rite
The Concluding Rite
The Blessing and Dismissal with Recessional:
Time to get to work ... :-)
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