Permanent Diaconate Formation Program
A permanent deacon is a man who:
- is called to be open to God’s love, promises and will for him;
- is prayerful, desiring to love God and God’s people in the context of his fundamental vocation;
- is ordained to the permanent diaconate in the Church for service, rooted in Baptism, to those in need;
- helps members of the Church to discover and participate through their giftedness in the ministry of Christ;
- serves a particular diocese as a collaborative associate of the Bishop and priests, lay ministers and professionals;
- is called, with others, to the work of evangelization;
- participates in sacramental preparation;
- preaches, teaches, counsels and provides spiritual guidance;
- may baptize, witness marriages and preside at wake services;
- may be married.
The Permanent Diaconate Formation Program is a time of discernment - discernment for the man contemplating a possible call to the diaconate and discernment for the Church community about his suitability for Holy Orders and ministry within the Diocese.
A candidate for the permanent diaconate is usually between 35 to 60 years of age at the time of admission to the Permanent Diaconate Formation program. Married deacons must have been married for at least seven years in order to be accepted for the formation program. Single men are required to make a solemn and public commitment to the celibate life and normally are not permitted to marry after their ordination to the Diaconate. Candidates must be employed or retired with an adequate income. Permanent deacons are not paid for their services as deacons.
Applicants must be healthy physically and psychologically and are required to have a university or college education and/or to undertake a program of study. A candidate should already be involved in services within his parish and/or community.
Diaconal candidates undergo a program of human, spiritual, theological and pastoral formation.
- Human Formation refers to the development of the skills that help candidates relate to and work with the diverse people of God.
- Spiritual Formation consists of retreats, study days, spiritual direction and commitment to the Liturgy of the Hours.
- Theological Formation focuses on the central teachings and practices of the Church and the development of pastoral skills.
- Pastoral Formation brings together all the components into supervised fieldwork experiences of homiletics, catechesis, liturgy, pastoral roles in hospitals, prisons, youth groups, RCIA, sacramental preparation or other parish involvements.
Most formation sessions will take place evenings and weekends.
To learn more about the application process, please contact the Director of the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program.