New Rule on Attire for Deacons

June 27, 2025

Bishop William Joensen has decreed that, beginning June 9, permanent deacons in the Diocese may start wearing grey shirts when dressed in clerical attire.

Effective Sept. 1, 2027, Des Moines diocesan permanent deacons will be required to wear grey shirts with the Roman collar when they’re in clerical attire.

Currently, priests and seminarians, who have reached the candidacy stage of their formation process, wear a black shirt with the white Roman collar.

A permanent deacon may wear a black shirt with a white Roman collar after ordination when doing ministry.

Sometimes there is confusion or an assumption by the general public that a man wearing clerics is always a priest, said Deacon Jim Houston, director of the diocesan Permanent Diaconate Office.

The change comes at the request of deacons for clear guidance and rules regarding clerical attire. It will help the general public better identify deacons, he said.

In addition to the grey shirt and Roman collar, deacons will wear some symbol of the diaconate whenever possible to more clearly distinguish between priests and deacons.

Deacons wear clerical attire (unless prohibited by their pastor) at diocesan or parish liturgies, events, or in some way engaged in ministry like marriage preparation, marriages, baptisms, wake services, funerals, graveside services, benediction, ministry in hospitals and nursing homes, ministry in Catholic schools, catechetical sessions, or ecumenical faith gatherings. 

If the deacon works for the Church, their place of employment determines whether the deacon may wear clerics while working.

Deacons can continue to wear black clerical shirts with the Roman collar until the new rule goes into effect.