Candidacy and Formation for Diaconate
Initial Steps
It is the responsibility of the
diocesan bishop to discern a vocation to the diaconate.
To be a suitable candidate for
ordination to the diaconate, a person must be a Catholic man of
sound moral character and mature faith who has shown a sense of
vocation to service.
He must demonstrate prayerfulness and
an openness to further spiritual formation.
He should be at least thirty years of
age (cf. can. 1031 §2) and should be involved already in parish or
other apostolic life. He should not normally be older than the
commonly accepted retirement age.
He should have the ability to complete
undergraduate studies and be able to make time for formation without
detriment to his family and work commitments.
He must have adequate physical and
mental health.
If married, he must have the active
support of his wife (and family). If not married, or widowed in the
future, he must be willing to accept a lifelong commitment to
celibacy.
He must have the support of his parish
priest or other equivalent church leaders.
A bishop or his delegate will
interview an applicant and obtain appropriate documents,
certificates and references. An applicant’s wife should also be
interviewed.
The applicant will be provided with
written information about the formation process including the time
involved, the role of deacons within the diocese, and expectations
during formation and after ordination as a deacon.
Formation
An applicant for ordained ministry
will receive formation in four areas: theological, personal,
spiritual and ministerial. The bishop will appoint an experienced,
competent director of formation to oversee this program.
It may be appropriate for several
bishops in neighbouring dioceses to establish a single formation
program, with one director, for applicants in their dioceses.
An applicant should obtain a degree in
theology from an approved institution, either by residential study
or distance education.
In addition, an applicant should
participate in a formation program organised or supported within his
diocese. This will normally consist of part of one weekend every
month and will normally take four years. The program will address
issues of personal growth, encourage a deeper spiritual life and
seek to equip an applicant with the ministerial skills needed in the
diaconate, in the areas of pastoral care, preaching and leading
various forms of public worship. The program should assist a
candidate to understand the life of the diocese, and to take his
place in it. A significant component of the program will be a
supervised pastoral placement.
An applicant’s wife will be encouraged
to participate in at least some aspects of this formation program.
Some additional sessions should be conducted specifically for the
wives (and family members) of applicants.
At an appropriate time during the
formation program, and with the consent his wife and those who have
overseen the formation program, an applicant would formally petition
the bishop to be accepted as a candidate for ordination to the
diaconate. It would be expected that, at definite stages throughout
a formation program, an applicant would be formally installed by the
bishop in the ministries of acolyte and lector. A candidate would
make a five-day retreat before ordination.
Funding
The costs and funding of a formation
program may vary from diocese to diocese. Such arrangements should
be explained and agreed upon before applicants are accepted into the
program.
Ongoing Formation of Deacons
Along with other members of the
clergy, a deacon accepts a life-long commitment to ongoing formation
in the theological, personal, spiritual and ministerial aspects of
his life. As far as possible, he will attend conferences, seminars
and retreats conducted for the clergy of his diocese. He will be
encouraged to participate in programs and associations designed
specifically for the support of deacons. It will often be fruitful
for appropriate programs to be offered to deacons’ wives (and
families).
