Diocesan
Orientations
on the Permanent Diaconate
June 2001
Dear Collaborators,
With this letter I am pleased to present to you our diocesan orientations on the permanent diaconate
Restored to its proper degree and permanence in the hierarchy by a specific proposal of the Second Vatican Council1, the Sacred Order of the Permanent Diaconate bas been progressively reinstated in the Diocese of Montreal following a majority vote of the Presbyteral Council in May 19742. Despite the fact that its foundation dates back to the very beginning of the Church, this ministry is still relatively new at this point in time and, therefore, it is necessary to set guidelines for the future.
In reflecting on the specificity of the diaconal service, we wanted to avoid certain stumbling blocks and reviewed our whole diaconal experience in order to better define the precise nature and exercise of this permanent ministry.
To do so, it was necessary to undertake some changes at the level of the diocesan structure with regards to the formation of candidates, as well as the focal areas for this ministry. Despite great progress in the understanding of the diaconate as a permanent order of service in the Church, some grey areas have remained practically unattended for some time.
Thus, at my request, a Study Commission was formed to examine all the aspects regarding the development of the Order of permanent deacons and its impact on their lives. This commission included representatives from the French and English sectors of the diaconate of Montreal so as to achieve a more encompassing perspective of the evolution of this ministry since its introduction into the Diocese3.
In the first phase of the work carried out by the Commission, there was a vast consultation among permanent deacons, their wives, pastoral agents, and priests. This consultation enabled an objective look at the situation as it stood in 1995. After taking stock of the strengths and the weaknesses of the Permanent Diaconate, the members of that Commission proposed a number of recommendations and highlighted several fundamental questions, requiring further reflection.
On February 22, 1998, two documents on the diaconate were published in Rome. The Congregation for Catholic Education produced the first one entitled, « Basic Norms Regarding the Formation of Permanent Deacons », while « The Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons » was published under the auspices of the Congregation for the Clergy.
On June 25, 1998, the time had come to start Phase II of the work of
our diocesan Commission. In March 2000, the Commission’s report was
tabled and examined by the Bishop’s Council. In response, the Bishop’s
Council recommended the publication of these orientations which would
support and guide the development of the permanent form of the Sacred
Order of the Diaconate in the Diocese of Montreal.
I am aware that not all aspects of the diaconate have been fully addressed.
Some complementary topics, such as the issue of remuneration, and the
question of jurisdiction are still under study, and those responsible
for the diaconate will ensure that these matters will be followed up.
I now promulgate these diocesan orientations for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Montreal, and I entrust their implementation to the Director of the Office for Pastoral Personnel, and his assistant for diaconal ministry.
+ Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte
Archbishop of Montreal
Msgr Michel Parent, V.E.
Chancellor
1- Lumen Gentium 29.
2- Refer to « History » of this document.
3- Phase I of the Study Commission’s Report of the Permanent Diaconate
was tabled in October 1995.
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June 2, 2003