A COMMON feature of ministry in the early Church and the centuries that ensued, the functions of the permanent deacon became absorbed by priestly ministry and the permanent diaconate ceased to exist.
The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) sought to restore this ministry of service - the word "deacon" means 'one who serves'.
In 2005 the Irish bishops decided to reintroduce the permanent diaconate to Ireland and the first permanent deacons were ordained in Dublin in 2011.
A permanent deacon receives his mission from his bishop, and is assigned to work as a member of a team under the leadership of the parish priest.
The permanent deacon is called to minister in close-collaboration with priests and with laity who are entrusted with various ministries.
Deacons play a key role in the development and coordination of lay ministry, but are not intended to replace lay ministries.