By Sarah Mac Donald - 31 May, 2015
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin will ordain nine men to the diaconate today at 11am in St Patrick’s College Maynooth.
Ordination as a transitional deacon takes place one year before ordination to priesthood.
The nine deacons are from the dioceses of Armagh, Clogher, Cork & Ross, Derry, Down & Connor, Galway (2), and Meath (2).
They will continue their priestly formation in Maynooth for the next year.
As a deacon, the nine will be able to do almost all that a priest does with the exception of saying Mass and hearing Confession.
A deacon may proclaim the gospel, preach, preside over public prayer, baptise, assist at marriages and bless them, give viaticum to the dying, and lead the rites of burial.
Separately, the Archbishop is due to ordain two men to the priesthood for Dublin early next month.
There are currently ten students studying for the priesthood in Dublin, seven in Maynooth and three at the Irish College in Rome.
In the diocese of Meath, Fr Robert McGivney is due to be ordained to the priesthood on 28 June in Navan.
