Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came "to serve and not to be served." The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the deacon, in virtue of his sacramental ordination and through his various ministries, is to be a servant in the midst of the Church.
As ministers of Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach, and teach in the name of the Church. As sacramental ministers, they baptize, lead the people of God in prayer, witness marriages, preside at funerals and wake services. As ministers of charity, they determine the best way to serve those in need and then help to organize the best way to meet those needs.
The Sacred Order of Deacon is the first degree of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and is considered the foundation on which the Orders of Priesthood and the Episcopacy are built.
Transitional Deacons are men in formation for the Priesthood while Permanent Deacons typically remain in this office throughout their lives.