Ireland’s first married deacons ordained

Ireland’s first married deacons were ordained last night by the Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

All but one of the eight men ordained permanent deacons in the Pro-Cathedral are married.

Deacons can assist the priest at the celebration of the Eucharist and can also celebrate baptisms and weddings as well as preside at funerals.

The men were ordained permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of Dublin following a three-year formation programme. It is hoped the move will ease the growing workload on the diminishing number of elderly priests.

While permanent deacons minister in other European countries, this is the first group to be ordained to the diaconate in Ireland.

The second Vatican Council recommended the permanent diaconate, a voluntary part-time ministry, in the 1960s.

The same strict celibacy rules that apply to those joining the priesthood will also apply to permanent deacons if they are unmarried when ordained.

Married candidates must be at least 35 and must have the consent of their wives before they can be ordained.

The only newly ordained permanent deacon who is single is Joe Walsh, a retired man from Lucan South parish.

In his homily, Archbishop Martin told the men that the ministry being conferred on them was a deep calling to service.

“Your calling is to renounce any temptation towards self centredness, towards using ministry and using others really for your own needs. When sacred authority is exercised, not as ecclesial service, but in our own interest, then a betrayal of sacred authority takes place.”

Archbishop Martin said that today, a time of rapid change and of challenge to so much of what was fundamental in life, they had to discern what the spirit was saying in their time and through the tradition of the Church.