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

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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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Vocation and Discernment

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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