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Post by Noelfitz on Aug 30, 2008 17:43:34 GMT
Is there a need, or any advantage, in having permanent deacons in the Church in Ireland? With the lack of priests, which will get worse as time goes on, there is a need for new initiatives. Are deacons the optimum response?
Would parish assistants be a better response? They could be male or female, young or old married or single. They could lead prayers in Church and do all the ministries at present carried out by lay folk.
I would welcome opinions.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (New Revised Standard Version, 1 Pe 2:9).
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (New Revised Standard Version, Ga 3:27-28).
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Post by Michael O'Donovan on Aug 31, 2008 21:14:53 GMT
I have seen permanent deacons in Britain. I would be afraid that if they because common here they would further obscure the unique sacrificial role of the priest. I would prefer to see adult altar servers trained to help ensure an excellent Liturgy.
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Post by mairtin on Sept 14, 2008 15:56:53 GMT
I would encourage your Deacons to become Priests/ That would be a wee bit difficult for the ones who are married ;D
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Post by Alaisdir Ua Séaghdha on Sept 28, 2022 16:07:19 GMT
I hear that at present candidates for the permanent diaconate in Ireland outnumber those for the priesthood. Now wait a second. Deacons receive part time training over three years. Priests are required to do at least two years of philosophy and four of theology full time. Though there are waivers for older man, especially taking previous study into account, it's rarely shorter than five years, partly because spiritual direction and disciplinary formation are also part of priestly training. Now, a deacon may and often does preach a sermon in church. Can anybody see a lack of balance here?
I think there is a serious need for reassessment here. A possible solution is pitching the diaconate at those in pre-retirement, drawing it out perhaps over several years to give the candidate an opportunity to get a good grasp of theology reinforced by spirituality and then be in a position to give a few full time years on retirement. But weekend deacons are just overgrown altarboys.
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Post by Beinidict Ó Niaidh on Oct 2, 2022 20:28:24 GMT
I think we know we have problems when the Irish Catholic borrows the superfluous Americanism 'transitional deacon', a phrase which needs to be banned except to criticise it and those who use it. As stated before, a deacon is a deacon is a deacon - the character of holy orders is no different between a young man intending to become a priest and an older man who isn't (married, single or widowed). If the formation (or lack thereof) differs from one to the other, that is a matter for the hierarchy and what remains of St Patrick's College, Maynooth to be ashamed of. The American model in this, as in many other things, is not one to copy.
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Post by Alaisdir Ua Séaghdha on Oct 5, 2022 20:56:26 GMT
Well, in a way, we're back to square one. Priestly formation in Ireland (and I am including the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, insofar as it still exists), whether diocesan or religious, leaves a lot to be desired. Undercatechised candidates are getting shallow theology. And in this climate, they half-train a part timer and confer the diaconate on him? God help us all. Whatever happened to the fear of hell fire?
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Post by assisi on Oct 13, 2022 20:30:18 GMT
Well, in a way, we're back to square one. Priestly formation in Ireland (and I am including the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, insofar as it still exists), whether diocesan or religious, leaves a lot to be desired. Undercatechised candidates are getting shallow theology. And in this climate, they half-train a part timer and confer the diaconate on him? God help us all. Whatever happened to the fear of hell fire? The fear of hell fire has been replaced by the 'Church of nice'. The main commandment is 'Thou shalt not hurt anyone's feelings'.
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Post by hibernicus on Nov 12, 2022 18:47:53 GMT
The fear of hell fire has been replaced by the fear of Ryan Tubridy/Fintan O'Toole/add names as required
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