National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent ...

The Ministry and Life of Deacons43to a diocesan or parochial ministry. Nevertheless, since a permanentdeacon is an ordained cleric, the bishop may not ordinarily forbid avisiting permanent deacon the exercise of his order provided thatthe deacon is not under censure.Bi-Ritual Permanent DeaconsWhen a permanent deacon of the Eastern Catholic Churches isgranted bi-ritual faculties to assist in the Roman Church, the theologicalunderstanding of the sacraments and the order of the diaconatein the Eastern Catholic Churches is to be respected.Practically, a deacon of the Eastern Catholic Churches is not to beallowed to solemnize marriages in the Roman Church.Resignation and Retirement103. Norms should be established in each diocese regarding theage, health, and other matters that need to be considered regardinga deacon’s resignation from a ministerial office or his retirementfrom ministerial duties.NORMS(The number[s] found in parentheses after each norm refer[s] tothe appropriate paragraph[s] in this Directory.)1. It is incumbent on the bishop to provide for the pastoral care ofdeacons of the diocese. This is discharged personally andthrough the director of deacon personnel, who must always bea cleric. (41)2. The principal criteria for the assignment of a deacon are thepastoral needs of the diocesan Church and the personal qualificationsof the deacon, as these have been discerned in his previousexperience and the course of his formation. (42)3. A catechetical introduction for priests, religious, and laity tothe diaconate at the time of its restoration and throughout itsdevelopment in the diocese should be planned and well implemented.(43, 53)4. Deacon assignments ought to provide ample opportunities foran integrated exercise of the threefold diaconal ministry: word,liturgy, and charity. (44)5. A program for newly ordained deacons during the first threeyears of their ministry is to be coordinated and supervised by