A post-primary teacher, a bakery manager and a tool designer were
among six men ordained as permanent deacons in Sligo on Saturday, a
Catholic ministry which permits them to preside at funerals, celebrate
Baptism and officiate at marriages.
The new deacons, all married
and in permanent employment, were ordained at Sligo cathedral by the
Bishop of Elphin, Christopher Jones.
He described the occasion as “truly
joyous” and historic, pointing out that it was almost 1,500 years
“almost back to the time of St Patrick himself” since a similar
ordination had taken place in the diocese.
Fr Michael Duignan,
director of the permanent diaconate in the diocese, told reporters that
responding to a shortage of priests was not the primary reason for the
revival of the permanent deacon, but he agreed that it would be “very
helpful”.
Newly ordained William Gacquin (57), who teaches
Spanish, Irish and religion at CBS Roscommon, said the last recorded
reference to a deacon in diocesan records was when one baptised St
Ciaran in the parish of Fuerty, Co Roscommon, in the sixth century.
The
men were ordained following four years of study at St Angela’s College
Sligo. The ministry does not permit them to say Mass, although they can
assist the priest, read the Gospel and preach a homily. They cannot hear
Confession or anoint the sick.
One of the deacons, Wando Araujo
(41), a father and grandfather, originally from Brazil, now lives in
Roscommon town, where he runs a bakery.
“I regard the diaconacy as
a vocation,” he said. His brother Claudio has already invited him to
officiate at his wedding in Brazil next summer.
Frank McGuinness
(42), a native of Rossinver, Co Leitrim, was keeping a close eye on his
sons James (5) and John (10) as the families waited to be photographed
with the bishop after the ceremony. He said his decision was far from a
shock to his wife Louise: “Faith is a big part of both our lives.”
‘Not replacing priests’
A former IT worker in the healthcare sector, he said the role was “not about replacing priests”.
David
Muldowney (42), a native of Lucan who lives in Ballinameen near Boyle
said his wife Meg, who is Anglican, had been very supportive and had
kept him going through the four years of intensive study.
The
father of three, who runs his own software company for banks, said: “I
always had a wish to give myself closer to God.” On the issue of whether
priests should be allowed to marry he said: “Let the church decide in
its own time.”
Also ordained were Seamus Talbot (44), a tool
designer who lives in Roscommon, and Damien Kearns (37), a technician
based at St Angela’s college, Sligo.
In 2001 the Irish Episcopal
Conference received permission from the Holy See to restore the
permanent diaconate in Ireland.
Saturday’s was the second ordination –
last June eight deacons were ordained in the Archdiocese of Dublin.