BRAINTREE -- Six candidates for Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate and their wives participated in the Ceremony of Sacred Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity on Aug. 9 at the Bethany Chapel at the Pastoral Center in Braintree. This ceremony is the final step for these six deacon candidates before they receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders on Oct. 15 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

The men are Paul Breadmore from St. Bridget's Parish in Abington; Joseph Cooley from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Woburn; John Czajkowski from St. Peter Parish in Cambridge; John Koza from St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish in Danvers; Charles Hanafin from St. Margaret of Antioch Parish in Burlington; and John Kobrenski from St. Lucy Parish in Methuen.

Episcopal Vicar for Clergy Father Bryan K. Parrish presided at Evening Prayer with Director of Diaconal Life and Ministries Deacon Patrick Guerrini, and Deacon Christopher Connelly, Director of Diaconate Formation assisted.

The permanent diaconate was reformed after the Second Vatican Council. This vocation is open to men between 35 and 60 years old who discern a call to serve God in a special way. Currently there are 164 active deacons in the Archdiocese of Boston serving in parishes and 61 senior deacons.

If you are discerning God's possible call to serve the Church as a minister of charity, word, and sacrament as an ordained deacon in the Archdiocese of Boston, you and your wife are invited to take part in one of the upcoming inquirer sessions. The focus for these sessions is to answer the question: "Who is the Deacon and am I one who is called?"

-- Sept. 20: St. Theresa Parish (West Region), 35 South Main Street, Sherborn

-- Sept. 20: St. Jerome Parish (South Region), 632 Bridge Street, Weymouth

-- Sept. 21: St. Maria Goretti Parish (North Region), 112 Chestnut Street, Lynnfield

-- Sept. 27: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (South Region), 439 West Street, Brockton

-- Oct. 3: Episcopal Vicar's Office (Central Region), 841 East Broadway, Boston

-- Oct. 3: Sacred Hearts Parish (Merrimack Region), 165 South Main Street, Haverhill.

If you are interested in learning more about the Permanent Diaconate, please contact Deacon Christopher Connelly at 617-254-0100.