Deacons serve both urban and rural parishes. Father John Harmon serves as pastor to two rural parishes, St. Anne in Logan and Holy Family in Mondamin. He said Deacon Jim Herman does a lot of the administration in Holy Family Parish and preaches on a regular basis. Plus, he named several other deacons in the northwest corner of the diocese who help with various ministries. Father Paul Monahan, of Holy Rosary Parish in Glenwood, has four deacons in his parish, three of whom are actively involved in ministry.
Deacons can also act as administrators of parishes.
Deacon Fred Cornwell ministers to and performs administrative tasks for St. John in Adair, St. Mary in Anita and St. Patrick in Massena. The area of deacons as parish administrators is growing. Nationally, there are 81 deacons providing such full-time service in 39 dioceses around the country, according to NCCB and CARA research. Currently, Deacon Cornwell is the only deacon in the Des Moines diocese who serves as an administrator for a parish. A survey conducted last year by Deacon Catanzano found that deacons in the Des Moines diocese are involved in 62 different types of ministries ranging from helping alcoholics and the homeless to visiting hospitals and couples preparing for marriage.