Permanent Deacons from across the globe gathered in Rome from February 21 to 23 for the Jubilee of Deacons. Among the Irish representatives were Msgr La Flynn and Deacon Martin Donnelly from Lough Derg, who in 2025 are celebrating their 50th and 7th anniversary of ordination to permanent diaconate respectively.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Msgr Flynn said that the most striking thing he is taking from the experience was taken from the Pope’s homily, which was read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, as the Pope is still hospitalised. “He said ‘You are about to descend to the first step of ordained ministry – notice that I deliberately said ‘descend’ not ‘ascend’. Among the People of God, ministry is serving.’”
During the catechesis gatherings on Friday, some deacons had a Q&A, when “one of the deacons suggested that the Vatican might need to issue a letter urging more bishops worldwide to take up the option of introducing permanent deacons in their dioceses.”
Msgr Flynn said “the Irish College was hosting a group of Deacons from Dublin Archdiocese with their wives – maybe 10 or 12 of them. The only others that we met from Ireland were two from Kildare and Leighlin.” He added that “the presence of deacons’ wives, and other family members was a notable aspect of the Jubilee event as a whole.”
For Deacon Donnelly, “the words which stay with me were ‘When you do good work as a deacon it should remain a closely guarded secret between you and God’.” Another comment that stayed with him said that deacons are not “half-priests” or “special altar boys”, but “they will be caring servants who do their best to ensure that no one is excluded and the love of the Lord touches people’s lives in a tangible way.”
“The Joy of the Jubilee of Deacons was marked by worry and concern for the health of the Holy Father yet in all the liturgies and pilgrim activities he was close to our hearts in prayer,” concluded Deacon Donnelly.
