A 32-year-old married Galway man is among the first tranche of close to 20 applicants interested in becoming permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of Tuam.
The campaign has attracted huge interest among lay people to get involved in a
role that would see them performing baptisms, preaching at Masses and delivering the graveside prayers at burials.
The Archdiocese of Tuam are buoyed by the number of applicants having only sought expressions of interest over the past couple of weeks. The process involves four years of training.
However, Fr Stephen Farragher, who is Director for the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese told The Connacht Tribune that this was not the long term solution to the shortage of priests, which is becoming an increasing problem for the Church.
At the moment there are six students from the Archdiocese of Tuam – including Gerard Quirke from Tuam – who are studying for the priesthood with one to be ordained in Mayo this coming year.
Fr Farragher, who is parish priest in Ballyhaunis but was the administrator to the Tuam parish a number of years ago, said that the response has been very positive. He added that they had even one from a man in his 70s but they are looking for men aged between 35 and 60 for the role.
He said that already they had received almost 20 expressions of interest from men, mostly from Galway, to become deacons and he expressed the hope that the Vatican would leave it open to women in the not too distant future.
The new deacons cannot celebrate the Eucharist or hear confessions and nor can they perform church ceremonies at weddings or funerals. However, they can conduct weddings that are not held in churches.
Fr Farragher said that he will be conducting interviews with the applicants and their families over the coming weeks. Those who are successful will have to embark on a four year training programme.
He said that the first year’s training programme will be intensive in that it will determine if the applicant is either suitable or ready to take on the role of a deacon in the Archdiocese.
“This is by no means the answer to the shortage of priests in the Archdiocese. There were situations in which we had two or three priests in a parish and we are now down to one.
“But we are certainly encouraged by the level of support that we are receiving from the lay members of the community who want to become involved in the administration of Church affairs. The response so far has been phenomenal”, he added.
He said that he would be in consultation with the Diocese of Elphin when it came to the criteria for selection and training of the possible candidates. He asked that anyone interested contact their parish priest to ascertain what would be involved in the role.
While the minimum age limit is 35, Fr Farragher said that he had received an application from a married man of 32 and he would be discussing the criteria with this applicant and his wife over the coming weeks.
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