Waterford ordains first permanent deacon

Dr Lazarus Gidoff became the first person ordained for the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Waterford in a ceremony led by Bishop Phoncie Cullinan in St Oliver’s Church in Clonmel on Sunday.

Rev. Lazarus is married to Seena and they have three children, Romald, Serena and Tracy. He is a native of Kerala in India and is employed as a psychiatric social worker in the HSE, based in Clonmel.

His ordination marks the culmination of a journey began over four years ago when he was accepted by Bishop William Lee to embark on a propaedeutic year to discern if he was called to the orders in the Church.