William Brown was one of five permanent deacons ordained during the Mass by Bishop Donald W. Trautman of the Catholic Diocese of Erie.

The 38-year-old is a special agent of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation and is assigned to the Erie region in the environmental crimes division. He previously was police chief in Vernon Township, Crawford County, and in Grove City. Mr. Brown served 22 years as a volunteer fire fighter.

The Greenville native earned a degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Municipal Police Academy and completed the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation's agents academy. Mr. Brown also received training at the Police Executive Development Institute at Pennsylvania State University, State College.

He and his wife, Thelma, have four sons. They attend St. Michael's Church, Greenville.

Permanent deacons may proclaim the Gospel at Mass, preach the homily, assist the priest at Mass, perform baptisms, distribute Communion, preside over funerals and act as an official witness at weddings. They also may expose the Blessed Sacrament and conduct eucharistic benediction.

The diaconal candidates have completed four of five years of study and prayer in the Diocese of Erie's Permanent Diaconate Program. In May, 2003, they will receive a certificate in diaconal ministry from Gannon University in Erie.

Permanent deacons differ from transitional deacons, who will be ordained to the priesthood. Permanent deacons may be married, although they cannot remarry and must remain celibate if their spouse dies. Single men who are permanent deacons must remain celibate.

Permanent deacons are trained in theology; cannon or church law; pastoral ministry and in preparing and delivering homilies at Mass.