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Deacon Formation Program
|History |Eligibility and Requirements |Vocation and
Discernment |Other Resources
What is a Permanent Deacon?
Men who are ordained to
the permanent diaconate promise to live out the charism of
service
to God and the people of God through a life of ordained ministry.
This commitment is characterized by service to the Word of God, the
Sacrament of the Church, and a life of Heroic Charity.
The
role of the deacon is to be a helper
of the bishops and priests, to proclaim by his life the Church's call to
serve the needs of others, to
proclaim the Gospel message, to live a life of fidelity to Christ and the
Church and to lead the community
in building a Kingdom of grace, faith, justice, and compassion.
The deacon is to be a sign and living witness of the presence of
Christ the Servant in the world.
Permanent Deacons share with
other ordained members of the Church a dedication to serve God’s people
through the proclamation of the Word, administration of the Sacraments, the
offering of Worship to God through Christ, the service of the poor and the
faithful of Christ. Since the Second Vatican Council the Church has seen even more clearly
that the deacon is called to serve the Bishop, and his Priests, by becoming
more intimately associated with, and involved in the life of the poor, the
marginalized, the forgotten, the abandoned, the silent, and the voiceless.
The deacon is asked to give his voice to the poor so that their concerns may
be heard by the whole Church, especially the Bishop. Intimately united to
the ministry of the Bishop and the Priests they are called to serve the
Church, giving their lives in service to their brothers and sisters, the
People of God.
In
1998 the Athenaeum of Ohio, Special Studies Division, assumed responsibility
for the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati (PDFP) [www.catholiccincinnati.org/admin/diaconate.htm
]. Candidates in this
program prepare to be ordained to the Order of Deacon in the Catholic Church
and to live out this Order in a life of public witness as the Church’s
minister and a life of service to the People of God, the Body of Christ.
Candidates must meet the Eligibility Requirements for admission to
the Diaconate program.
Contact at the Archdiocese:
Mr. Barry
Mersmann
Director of Permanent Diaconate
Office 100 East Eighth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Tel. 513.421.3131
Contact at the Athenaeum:
Rev.
Benedict D. O'Cinnsealaigh
Director of Diaconate Formation
Mt. St. Mary's
Seminary of the West
6616 Beechmont Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio
45230
.
Tel. 513.233.6140
A Brief History of the
Diaconate
From the earliest days of
the Christian
Church the deacon has been intimately associated with the ministry of the
Bishop and Priests. In the primitive Church of the Apostolic and Post
Apostolic age, as witnessed to in the Christian Scriptures, the deacon was
described as a minister in the liturgical
assembly and preacher of the word. The deacon prepared catechumens for
entrance into the Church and was a dispenser of aid and food to the poor and
distressed. The very term “Diakonia” announces the central
characteristic of this Order, the deacon is called to service. The
witness of Saint Irenaeus already understood the apostolic appointment of
the “seven” men in Acts 6: 1-6 to take care of the Greek speaking widows and
orphans as the institution of the diaconate. Saint Paul refers to deacons in
his exhortation in Philippians (1:1) and Saint Timothy lists the qualities
and virtues which all deacons are expected to possess and exercise in their
ministry (Tim 3:8-13).
The
witness of the Fathers of the Church certainly acknowledges the importance
of the diaconal ministry in the early Church. Saint Ignatius of Antioch says
that it would be impossible to have the Church without bishops, priests and
deacons. He speaks of the deacon sharing in the ministry of Christ. The
deacon is a minister of the Church of God. In the Patristic Age the deacon
continued to assist the bishop in the administration of the community,
performing the sacred rites, and providing charity.
After the fifth century
there was a steady decline in the permanent diaconate in the Latin Church.
From the early Middle Ages the diaconate remained only as a traditional
order that men received as part of their preparation for ordination to the
sacred priesthood. There were occasional exceptions to this rule hover,
Saint Francis of Assisi, for example, was ordained a deacon but not a
priest. In the sixteenth century the Council of Trent directed that the
permanent diaconate should be restored to the Latin Church but this
directive was not carried into effect. The reality was that the permanent
character of this Order was abandoned by the Latin Church for many
centuries.
The permanent character of
the Order, however, was restored and renewed when the Second Vatican Council
(October 30, 1963) called for the reestablishment of the ministry of the
Permanent Deacon for the Universal Church. On 18 June 1967, Pope Paul VI
carried out the desire of the Council when he published the Apostolic Letter
Sacrum diaconatuus ordinem in which he reestablished the permanent
diaconate in the Latin Church. The Council, in its Dogmatic Constitution of
the Church (Lumen Gentium 29), echoes the ancient image and concerns
of the New Testament when it speaks of the ministry and nature of the
diaconate:
“At the lower end of the hierarchy are deacons, upon whom
hands are imposed ‘not unto the priesthood, but unto a ministry of service.’
For strengthened by sacramental grace, in communion with the bishop and his
group of priests, they serve the People of God in the ministry of the
liturgy, of the Word, and of charity. It is the duty of the deacon, to the
extent that he has been authorized by competent authority, to administer
baptism solemnly, to be custodian and dispenser of the Eucharist, to assist
at and bless marriages in the name of the Church, to bring viaticum to the
dying, to read the Sacred Scriptures to the faithful, to instruct and exhort
the people, to preside at the worship and prayer of the faithful, to
administer sacramentals, and to officiate at funeral and burial services.
Dedicated to duties of charity and of administration, let deacons be mindful
of the admonition of Blessed Polycarp: ‘Be merciful, diligent, walking
according to the truth of the Lord, who became the servant of all’(Lumen
Gentium #29).”
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Eligibility Requirements and Application for the Permanent Diaconate
In
accordance with the Church’s norms outlined in Basic Norms for the
Formation
of
Permanent Deacons, (Congregation for Catholic Education & Congregation
for the Clergy, Vatican City,
1998), and the
National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent
Deacons in the United States, (Bishops’ Committee on the Diaconate,
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
2000), the Diaconate Formation Program of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati is designed around the Human,
Spiritual, Intellectual and Pastoral development of each
candidate.
A man who feels called to
the Order of deacon should discuss this matter with his pastor and over a
period of time they should discerned the movement of the Holy Spirit in the
candidate’s life. The candidate must be well known to the pastor and the
members of the parish community. He must already be involved in the life of
the parish in its ministries, outreach programs, or education programs. His
commitment to the parish and the Church should be evident in his constant
participation and support of the parish. He should be recognized by the
community as a witness to pastoral charity, a life of prayer, a man faithful
to the Church’s teachings, and should live a life consistent with the values
and commandments of the Gospel. The pastor should meet with a candidate’s
wife in order to discern the level of her support for her husband’s
intention to peruse ordination to the diaconate.
In
order to be accepted into the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program a
candidate is expected to have successfully completed the Lay Pastoral
Ministry Program or have received an equivalent level of preparation. As
well as successfully completing courses and seminars on pastoral ministry
and human development each candidate, as part of the application process,
goes through a screening process, undergoes a rigorous interview process,
psychological evaluations and is required to provide over seven independent
references from a wide variety of sources. The application process for the
Archdiocese of Cincinnati is coordinated and implemented by the Director of
the Office of the Permanent Diaconate.
As many
candidates for the permanent diaconate are married and have families,
efforts are made to include spouses and children in the formation program at
all levels. The involvement, commitment and approval of a spouse is
essential for a candidate’s acceptance into the program and in the success
of living out the deaconal vocation.
Qualities Sought in Potential Deacon Candidates
-
emotional maturity
-
personal integrity/ appropriate self- knowledge
-
demonstrate a personal commitment to growing in Christian holiness/ an
active prayer life/ participation in the Eucharistic and Sacramental life
of the Church
-
generosity for service already being demonstrated
- good
physical and psychological health (both candidate and wife, if married)
-
ability to work in a team/ works well with people
-
clearly demonstrates an ability and willingness to lead
- good
communication skills (both as a speaker and as a listener)
-
ability to speak publicly and proclaim the Gospel effectively
-
ability to articulate and explain the moral and doctrinal teaching of the
Church effectively
- need
in the community for his service and leadership
-
acceptance by the Christian community as evidenced by his ministry in the
parish
- he
must show an acceptance and personal commitment to the teaching of the
Church
Prerequisites for Admission to the Program
- A
man must be a Catholic in good standing in the Church and fully initiated
in the faith
- He
must be at least 32 years of age
- If
married, there must be evidence of a stable and growing marriage
relationship. His wife must be willing to support her husband
actively through formation and in his ministry.
- He
will minimally have completed the theological and ministerial requirements
for obtaining Certificate in Lay Ministry from the Athenaeum. Athenaeum
certificate courses must have been taken for undergraduate credit
equivalency.(Education is evaluated on an individual case basis)
- He
will have demonstrated his ability to respond to needs for service himself
and lead others to do so.
- He
is endorsed by his present pastor, parish staff and parish council
-
Tribunal Procurator and Child Abuse Decree workshop are prerequisite
If you
are interested in applying for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Permanent
Diaconate Program please contact:
Mr. Barry
Mersmann
Director of Permanent Diaconate
Office 100 East Eighth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Tel. 513.421.3131
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The Mystery of Vocation
“The
history…of every Christian vocation, is the history of an inexpressible
dialogue between God and human beings, between the love of God who calls and
the freedom of individuals who respond lovingly to God. The calling forth
from God is marked first in the reception of the sacraments of Christian
initiation. From out of this body of believers Christ then calls some of his
disciples, and the Church ordains them to a service of the whole Church”
(National Directory, #164).
Diaconate Vocation
 The
foundation of the ministry of the Order of Deacon is a divine vocational
call. A call to
vocation is a grace from God. There are many ways in which this grace may
present itself: through
an invitation on the part of priests, deacons, and the
faithful who suggest to you that you
might consider entering
the diaconate. Through a personal conviction that arises from your own
personal prayer life or the pastoral activity you
are already engaged in for the sake of building up the kingdom of
God.
Men
who seek to enter the Diaconate Formation Program in the hope of receiving
the Order of Diaconate already feel themselves called by Christ
to this particular ministry of service. The call to Diaconate is a call to a
life dedicated to the service of God and the Church in fidelity, compassion
and courage. The Deacon is especially called to make present, in the midst
of the community, the image of Christ the servant. The deacon is especially
to be identified by his witness to charity, his service to the bishop, and
his love and concern for the poor, the outcast, and the weak. Before he can
enter into the Order of deacon a man must feel called to a life of radical
witness for the sake of the kingdom of
God.
Formation and Discernment
Acceptance into the
diaconate formation program is not a sign of the completion of a man’s
vocational discernment. Rather, it is the beginning of a more intense
personal, family, communal, and ecclesial questioning, prayer and scrutiny
of the call and vocation.
“Discernment
is an essential spiritual process in determining the presence of a vocation
to the diaconate, as well as the capacity to live it fully after
ordination…. A strong spiritual life and a realistic commitment to serve
people converge in the continual transformation of the participant’s mind
and heart in harmony with Christ”
(National Directory, #116).
Discernment of vocation has two major components:
1.
The
candidate continues to discern his vocational call.
2.
The
Church discerns the vocational call of the candidate.
Discernment is realized in the convergence of a number of aspects:
Personal Discernment:
The initial stage of
discernment is seen in the candidate’s original sense of a calling to love
and serve the Church, a sense of vocation. This is especially realized in
his desire to serve his brothers and sisters, bring to them the message of
the Gospel and in his deep desire to comfort and raise up the poor. At this
stage the candidate feels a personal call which leads to the seeking of
information and advice. This initial discernment should normally be
confirmed by the positive response of the pastor and parish staff/community.
Family Discernment:
For those who are married
the discernment of wife and family is essential. The support and consent of
a wife is required before a man can enter into the formation process for
diaconate. Support and consent should arise from an informed understanding
of Diaconate and Holy Orders.
Communal Discernment:
As the parish is the primary
Church experience for most inquirers a discernment on the part of this
community is also necessary. It is the local community, and in particular
the pastor, who invites those who may be qualified to serve as Deacons in
the Church.
Ecclesial Discernment:
Ecclesial discernment
includes such elements as: admission recommendations from pastor and others,
parish community recommendation, admission board scrutiny and acceptance,
psychological evaluation and consultations, suitable academic background,
participation in formation program. Those appointed by the [Arch]Bishop for
the immediate formation of the Deacon, especially the President of the
Athenaeum, the Director of Diaconate Formation, and Director of Diaconate,
have the responsibility of discerning the authenticity of a vocation on
behalf of the Church. While they do not have the final say in who is to be
ordained, they do have the responsibility of recommending to the Archbishop,
after suitable enquiry among the People of God and those responsible for
their training, those they consider “worthy” of ordination.
“The history of every priestly vocation, as indeed of
every Christian vocation, is the history of an inexpressible dialogue
between God and human beings, between the love of God who calls and the
freedom of individuals who respond lovingly to him.” However, alongside
God's call and the response of individuals, there is another element
constitutive to a vocation, particularly a ministerial vocation: the public
call of the Church. “Vocari a Deo dicuntur qui a legitimis Ecclesiae
ministris vocantur” (“Those men are said to be called by God who are called
by the legitimate ministers of the Church”). The expression should not be
understood in a predominantly juridical sense, as if it were the authority
that calls which determines the vocation, but in a sacramental sense, that
considers the authority that calls as the sign and instrument for the
personal intervention of God, which is realized with the laying on of hands.
In this perspective, every proper election expresses an inspiration and
represents a choice of God. The Church's discernment is therefore decisive
for the choice of a vocation; how much more so, due to its ecclesial
significance, is this true for the choice of a vocation to the ordained
ministry.
This discernment must be conducted on the basis of
objective criteria, which treasure the ancient tradition of the Church and
take account of present day pastoral needs. For the discernment of vocations
to the permanent diaconate, some requirements of a general nature and others
responding to the particular state of life of those called should be taken
into account” (Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons, #29).
Personal Discernment
During Formation:
During the period of Diaconate Formation, a candidate is called to an even
more intense time of reflection, prayer, spiritual sacrifice, and spiritual
direction so that he can more completely discern his vocational call. Aids
to this discernment include a healthy spiritual and sacramental life,
spiritual direction, meeting with mentor couples, retreats, days of
recollection and an ability to participate and master the academic aspects
of the program. A candidate is primarily responsible for his own personal
discernment of his vocation. While a number of aids are provided and while
positive advice is given, ultimately the depth to which an individual enters
into the discernment process is an individual choice.
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Other Resources
for Diaconate Candidates
Prayers for Deacons:
Vatican Documents:
Articles:
Pope John Paul II:
Internet Sites:
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