The nine new Deacons with Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor outside St Peter's Cathedral. Picture by Cliff Donaldson Bishop Noel Treanor told nine new deacons “we rejoice and give thanks to you” at their ordination over the weekend.
The ordinations, the first for the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Down and Connor, took place on Sunday, October 14.
Each deacon will be attached to a parish and will assist with Mass, occasionally preach, baptise, preside and bless marriages and assist at funerals and burials.
In helping their local Church they may also take care of the sick, prisoners, those suffering from addictions, the housebound, the poor, the homeless, refugees, assisting those preparing for Christian marriage or other arenas in catechesis, communication, or Church governance which will emerge in the future.
Those ordained as permanent deacons were: Joseph Baxter, Terence Butcher, Brendan Dowd, Brett Lockhart, James McAllister, Gregory McGuigan, Patrick McNeill, Kevin Webb, and Martin Whyte.