Diaconate Formation Program

Qualification for Entrance into Diaconate Formation

• 2 semesters of Ministry of Service (Please see Office of Religious Education)

• Must be 35 years of age before date of Ordination and no older than 65 years of age at time of Ordination

• Must have a letter of recommendation from current Pastor

• Must be a baptized, practicing Catholic for a minimum of 5 years preceding application

• If married, must have a letter of recommendation from wife and have been in a stable, sacramental marriage for a minimum of 5 years

• If applicant or spouse has been previously married, must furnish a copy of the annulment at the time of application

• If not married, must discern and profess a vow of celibacy

• Must be gainfully employed or covered by Social Security or its equivalent

Formation

• Formation in the Human, Spiritual, Intellectual, Pastoral and Diaconal and Ministry Dimensions

• 7 Semesters of Classroom Sessions

  • Old Testament

  • New Testament

  • Moral Theology

  • Church History

  • Sacramental Theology

  • Dogmatic Theology

  • Liturgical and Sacramental Parcticums

• Summer Sessions

  Ministry Listening Skills

  Canon Law

  Ecclesiology/Patrology (Class and Online combined)

  Ministry Internship

• Formation Saturdays

• Annual Spring Deacon Weekend and Annual Fall Deacon Retreat

Formation Schedule

• Recruitment Year for Discernment Class of 2012 (2011)

• Discernment Year for Diaconate Class (2012)

• Formation Years for Class of 2016  (2013-2016)
• Anticipated Diaconate Ordination (2016)