My column this week concerns the establishment of the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain.

The process

The delegates of two consecutive sessions of the Archdiocesan Synod asked that “the Archdiocese consider the ordination of permanent deacons.”

I presented the matter to the presbyterate for consultation on two separate occasions and then issued a questionnaire to each parish priest/parish administrator on the matter.

Out of the 61 parishes, there were 32 responses to the questionnaire. Sixteen responses expressed support for establishing the permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese. It is important to note that, in a number of the responses, those who did not support the proposal were not against the permanent diaconate itself.

They had concerns about the impact of the permanent diaconate on the well- established pattern of lay ministry in the archdiocese and, in particular, on women who would not be eligible for the permanent diaconate but who have served and continue to serve the archdiocese so very well in ministry.

Implications for pastoral care

Staffing the many pastoral commitments of the archdiocese continues to be a challenge for the Personnel Board. It may be helpful for the reader of this column to know that there are presently 61 parishes in the archdiocese.

The parishes are responsible for 197 Centres of Worship i.e. the Parish Church and the Chapel Communities of the Parish. There is also a process underway to examine
1) whether two additional parishes should be established due to population shifts in the nation and
2) how the archdiocese can develop a quality campus ministry presence to the new University of Trinidad and Tobago.

My decision

Based on the Synod recommendations and the positive responses from sixteen parishes, I have decided to establish the permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain. 

I shall begin the programme gradually. The first class of candidates will be drawn from the sixteen parishes that stated they would welcome permanent deacons on the parish staff.

For the sake of completeness, I want to state that it will also be possible for permanent deacons to be assigned to non-parish pastoral ministry e.g. prisons and campus ministry. They may also be assigned to administrative positions in the archdiocese.

Vatican Council II

The Second Vatican Council restored the permanent diaconate in the Latin Church. In the Constitution on the Church (1964), the Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church (1965) and in the Decree on the Catholic Eastern Churches (1965) the Council reestablished the permanent diaconate “as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy.” (LG, N. 29; AG, N. 15-16; OE, N.17)

There was considerable documentary guidance provided by the Church after the Council for the permanent diaconate. The Order of Deacon is to be “a driving force for the Church’s service or diakonia to the Christian community and a sign or sacrament of the Lord Jesus Christ who came not to be served but to serve.” (Pope Paul VI, Norms For the Order of the Diaconate, quoting Mt 20, 28).

National conferences and individual dioceses issued norms for implementing the conciliar decision. These directives emphasised the need for holistic education and formation of the permanent deacons.

General programme overview

Since a permanent deacon is a cleric, he must follow the rigorous admissions process that applies to candidates for the transitional diaconate. In general that means, in addition to letters of recommendation that testify to the integrity and good standing of the candidate, there must also be proof of being involved in the ministries of the Church.

The candidate must undergo psychological testing and consequent interviews with the Admissions Board. The diaconal candidate and his wife must be interviewed. No diaconal candidate will be accepted into the programme if his wife does not give consent. (Canon 1031, 2)

There are minimum age requirements for ordination e.g. a married man must have completed his 35th year before his ordination. The diocese usually establishes a maximum age beyond which a candidate will not be ordained.

While this stipulation may seem strict, we must remember that ordination as a permanent deacon represents a lifelong call to service. It is not a reward for prior service. The age beyond which a candidate will not be eligible for ordination as a permanent deacon has not yet been established for the archdiocese.    

While the details of the programme are still in development, it can be stated that usually the academic formation and pastoral programme for the permanent diaconate is a minimum of three years. The wives of the candidates are invited to participate in the entire programme should they wish to do so.

The pastoral experience of the Church regarding the participation of wives is quite positive. In many cases, the wives of permanent deacons choose not only to participate in the programme, they also choose to exercise team ministry with their husbands.

Pope Paul VI

When Pope Paul VI implemented the conciliar decision to restore the permanent diaconate in1967, he stressed two points:
1) The restoration of the permanent diaconate will complete the hierarchy of sacred orders in the Church that dates back to apostolic times.
2) Although some functions of deacons are accustomed to be entrusted to laypersons, it is nevertheless beneficial to those who perform a truly diaconal ministry to be strengthened by the imposition of hands, a tradition going back to the Apostles.

Conclusion

I hope this brief overview will be helpful to the archdiocese. The details of the permanent deacon programme will be published prior to Advent, the admissions process will take place during Advent and, as announced during the Chrism Mass, the programme is scheduled to open in January 2007.