National Coordinator - Permanent Diaconate

Deacon Paul Simmons

is the National Coordinator of the Permanent Diaconate in Australia and ex officio on the Australian Council for Clergy Life and Ministry. He was awarded the Degree of Bachelor of Theology from the Sydney College of Divinity in 2002 and ordained for the Diocese of Broken Bay in 2004. He was appointed to the parish of Wyoming, where he is still ministering today.He is a member of the Broken Bay Clergy Life and Ministry team and previously served on the Diocesan Task Force on Parish Boundaries and Pastoral Care. He is a member of the National Association of Deacons and served on its executive for two years. He has been married to Susan for forty years. They have two children and six grandchildren. Prior to commencing his studies for the permanent diaconate he worked in the electricity industry for 35 years and is a past member of the Australian Human Resources Institute and the Australian Institute of Management.

Role Description

NAME OF POSITION
National Coordinator - Permanent Diaconate

RATIONALE OF POSITION
A part-time position appointed by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC), accountable to the Conference through the Director Clergy Life and Ministry to the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry:
(a) to promote the permanent diaconate in Australia.
(b) to implement policies decided by the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry to support the formation and ongoing education of deacons in Australia
(c) to raise the profile of the permanent diaconate by communicating a national vision, yet at the same time focused on the individual needs of each diocese particularly in relation to the formation of aspirants and candidates for the diaconate.

TASKS
(a) Liaise with Bishops and Diaconal Communities.
(b) Support Diocesan Directors of Diaconate, Aspirants, Candidates, Deacons, and, for married deacons, their families.
(c) Support the National Association of Deacons in order they may find encouragement, and convene national and regional meetings.
(d) Travel throughout Australia to hear what bishops and communities are saying in relation to the diaconate, and address their concerns.
(e) In promoting the diaconate to also discern suitable programs, activities and offer resources for the ongoing formation of deacons.

ACCOUNTABILITY
(a) Report on a regular basis to the Director Clergy Life and Ministry.
(b) Present a report to meetings of the Australian Council for Clergy Life and Ministry.
(c) Consult the Chairman - Australian Council Clergy Life and Ministry, and the Chairman - Bishops Commission for Church Ministry, where appropriate.

REVIEW
A review of performance to be conducted every three-year term, at least six months before its completion, by a process involving the Director Clergy Life and Ministry, Council Members, Diocesan Directors, Bishops and Deacons as appropriate.