Ordination of Three Permanent Deacons for Archdiocese of Dublin

Three men were ordained as Permanent Deacons in St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral in Dublin on Sunday evening (June 23rd). Jimmy Fennell, Michael Giblin and Derek Leonard are the second group of men to be ordained in Dublin to this revived ministry in the Irish Church. Last year eight were ordained to the permanent deaconate, for the first time in centuries.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin ordained the three men and said the call to the deaconate today is a call to be configured in a special way to Jesus who serves and to represent in a special way in the life of the Church. In his homily, the Archbishop said, “Your configuration to Jesus who serves must from today onwards become part of your identity, something you must fully integrate into the way you live.   All ministry in the Church is service. It must reach out.  Whenever ministry looses the characteristic of service and reaching out then it degenerates into the opposite to ministry, to self-indulgence and self-promotion.” 

Above continued here:  Catholic Ireland News - Ordination of Permanent Deacons

Jimmy Fennell is a parishioner of St. Agnes Parish, Crumlin who runs his own electrical repair business. He has been actively involved in the Brú Youth Service in Crumlin and spent many years as an officer in the Naval Reserve.

Michael Giblin, from Knocklyon, is married to Eileen. They have three children.  He is an IT Manager and has been actively involved for many years in St. Colmcille’s Parish, serving among other things as Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council.

Derek Leonard is a parishioner of St. Mochta’s Parish, Porterstown, where he lives with his wife Orla and their son and daughter. A businessperson, Derek has been involved in the parish faith-friends programme, helping children to prepare for Confirmation.