The National Directory and Norms received the approval of the Holy See ad experimentum for six years in 2005. It will be due for revision and re-submission in 2011. In May 2008, the Archbishop of Dublin announced the decision to restore the permanent diaconate in Dublin. Dublin is one of two diocese to have begun the propaedeutic programme in 2008. The other is Elphin. About six other dioceses seem to be moving towards beginning the process in the near future.

Meeting with prospective candidates in Dublin began at the end of May 2008.
Interest was initially slow, but picked up quite a bit in the second half of July.

• In total there were 23 enquiries.
• Sixteen have now been invited to participate in the propaedeutic period, which involves five residential weekends and is geared mainly towards helping them to make a mature discernment.
• The first of these weekends took place on 3rd to 5th October
• I met each of these people on two or three occasions alone, and subsequently – for those who are married – with their wives
• During the propaedeutic period they will be asked to continue in the kind of service in which they are already involved, but encouraged to reflect on it more deeply.
• At the end of this year (in April) there will be an evaluation weekend during which aspirants will decide whether they wish to enter the formation programme proper, and at which point a recommendation will be made by the “selectors” to the Archbishop in each case.

Of those who have been invited to undertake the preliminary year:

• All but three have some level of theology studies, (ranging from diploma in many cases to masters in one case)
• All are already involved in some form of ministry or service in the community, and a substantial number of these are active in SVP or in service to the homeless or to addicts
• All but two are married

The age range is from 41 to 62, with the bulk of candidates in the early to mid-fifties.

The 16 Dublin aspirants have been joined for the propaeduetic programme by eight others from Elphin.

Discussions are taking place at present regarding the structure and location of the formation programme proper. It is envisaged that, while candidates would normally be expected to complete three years of formation prior to ordination, there formation programme might continue for a year or two after ordination, to ensure that candidates are as well prepared as possible, and to encourage a commitment to on-going formation.

Documents

• National Directory for Ireland (Adobe Acrobat)
• Ministry and Life (Adobe Acrobat)
• I Have Given You An Example (Adobe Acrobat)
• Priest Reference Form (Adobe Acrobat)
• Report October 2008 (Microsoft Word)
• The Permanent Diaconate (Microsoft Powerpoint)