Who can I talk to?

If you think that you may be called to the priesthood, and wish to know how you might respond to this call, please make contact with the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Cloyne at the telephone number, or email address, below. All communication will be held in strict confidence.

Vocations Director:
V. Rev. John McCarthy SP
Ballyvourney, Co. Cork.

Tel: 086 8212101
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Priesthood in the Diocese of Cloyne

Since the foundation of the Church, Our Lord Jesus has been calling men to serve the Church as his priests. A priest of Jesus Christ is a shepherd of souls, a teacher of the Word of God and a minister of God’s grace through the sacraments. Priests, by the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, “are signed with a special character and so are configured to Christ the priest in such a way that they are able to act in the person of Christ the head” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1563).

If you think that you may be called to the priesthood, and wish to know how you might respond to this call, please make contact with the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Cloyne at the telephone number, or email address, below. All communication will be held in strict confidence.

The Permanent Diaconate

 What is a Permanent Deacon?

The vocation and role of ‘Deacon’ in the Church is a specific one. Different to priesthood, it is, however, one of the holy orders. The following excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church describe the ministry of deacons in the Church:

“At a lower level of holy orders are to be found deacons, who receive the imposition of hands ‘not unto the priesthood, but unto the ministry” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1569).

“Deacons have a special attachment to the bishop in the tasks of his ‘diakonia’ (service)” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1569).

“Deacons share in Christ’s mission and grace in a special way. The sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint (‘character’) which cannot be removed and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the ‘deacon’ or servant of all. Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1570).

“Since the Second Vatican Council the Latin Church has restored the diaconate ‘as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy,’ while the Churches of the East had always maintained it. This permanent diaconate, which can be conferred on married men, constitutes an important enrichment for the Church’s mission. Indeed it is appropriate and useful that men who carry out a truly diaconal ministry in the Church, whether in its liturgical and pastoral life or whether in its social and charitable works, should ‘be strengthened by the imposition of hands which has come down from the apostles. They would be more closely bound to the altar and their ministry would be made more fruitful through the sacramental grace of the diaconate.'” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1571)

Who can I talk to about becoming a Deacon?

For those, in the Diocese of Cloyne, who would like to discuss what a vocation to the diaconate ministry entails, you may make contact with:

Canon William (Bill) Bermingham, P.P. Youghal
Director of Permanent Diaconate Studies
Phone: 083- 8687196
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fr Joe O’Mahony, Adm. Cill na Martra
Assistant Director of Permanent Diaconate Studies
Phone: 026-41092
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.