Q: Preaching is another concern. There are two schools of thought: 1) Deacons should preach regularly and often. 2) The one who breaks open the bread should break open the Word as well. In this mindset the deacon should rarely preach at Mass yet should at Sacraments and other functions. Your thoughts? Thanks
A: At mass, the celebrant may ask the deacon to preach (GIRM 66, 171c). So I can’t agree with those who say that the one who breaks open the bread should always break open the word. One of the responsibilities of a deacon is to preach. In my view, if he is deemed incapable of the task, he should not have been ordained.