The bishop of Elphin, Dr Christopher Jones has launched plans for a permanent diaconate in his diocese as part of expanding the involvement of lay people in the Church. The diaconate will be voluntary and part-time and open to single men over 30 and married men over 35 and under 60 who have been living in, or working for the diocese for at least five years.
Bishop Jones said that several thousand people were contributing in one way or other to Church life as lay people, which demonstrated "the vitality of our diocese" but the challenges of the future needed "more than goodwill".
"They call for systematic planning and investment in persons and by persons who will exercise a service of leadership, support and encouragement" Dr Jones declared.
"In light of this, I propose to reintroduce the permanent diaconate and to invite parishes to encourage women and men to train as Parish Catechists" he said.
In a pastoral letter, the bishop praised the contribution of priests and religious, some of whom are retired, to the diocese, as well as that of families' contribution to education, community development and social services.
Dr Jones stressed that the ministry of deacons would "complement and not replace the many services exercised by lay people".
The diocese anticipates that some applicants for the diaconate will have other jobs which they will continue to hold down after ordination, while others may be retired.
They will undergo a four-year formation course at the end of which they will be qualified to preach at Masses and other services and preside at services other than the Mass itself, include officiating at funerals, baptisms and weddings.
Bishop Jones said he accepted that the restriction of the permanent diaconate to men would be "a source of disappointment to some women and men".
"I hope however that we will recognise the potential the permanent diaconate represents for the good of the Church" he remarked.
The bishop said that in future, parishes would also need qualified catechists to support families and schools in bringing the faith to both young people and adults.
In other countries, catechists help "to fan the flame of faith" and Dr Jones said his diocese would have "much to benefit from having suitably trained persons".
Bishop Jones's announcement follows a decision taken by the Irish bishops to reintroduce a permanent diaconate in the Irish church.
Traditionally, the Church taught that there are three degrees in Holy Orders, bishops, priests and deacons, but in recent centuries, the diaconate became in practice only a step towards the priesthood.
However, following Vatican II, a decision was taken to restore the diaconate as a distinct ministry and there are already over 15,000 deacons in other countries, notably, Europe and the United States.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce