From Deacon's Bench: Permanent Diaconate about to grow in Ireland, so says Irish Bishop

Irish bishop issues pastoral letter on diaconate, calls for men to consider the vocation

August 11, 2014 by Deacon Greg Kandra

The restored diaconate is something new in Ireland, and the number of deacons is relatively small.
But one bishop, Kieran O’Reilly of the Diocese of Killaloe, has taken a dramatic step to do something about that.  A few days ago, he issued a pastoral letter on the permanent diaconate, outlining the vocation and inviting men to discern the call:

With this Pastoral Letter I wish to invite men who believe that the Lord is calling them to the ministry of the permanent diaconate to present themselves to the Diocese and so begin a process of discernment. This is a new departure for the diocese and is an opportunity of engaging with a ministry that expands ministry as it is presently understood and practiced in the diocese. This opening heralds a welcome presence of candidates for ministry committed to family life, with all the knowledge and experience that family life brings. The introduction of the ministry of the Permanent Diaconate will take account of lay involvement and pastoral development in the diocese. The role of the deacon does not replace or surpass the work of pastoral councils or pastoral workers. The main work of the deacon, as I see it from the outset, will be in facilitating the continued development of lay ministry in the diocese.
Deacons, if the Lord blesses the diocese with them, will be ordained to work alongside priests and lay ministers not to
replace them.

Read the whole letter. 

Read more: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2014/08/irish-bishop-issues-pastoral-letter-on-diaconate-calls-for-men-to-consider-the-vocation/#ixzz3A7khocpZ