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APPLICANT
TO ASPIRANCY:
A male who has been baptized
and confirmed.
AGE:
He is at least thirty (30)
years of age and normally less than
sixty (60) years of age at the
time of his admission to the
program, and must be at least
thirty‑five years old at time
of Ordination.
STATUS:
Married or single
If married,
he has been married at least five
years and lives in a valid, stable
marriage. He must be
married only once in accordance with
the law of the Church.
If single, he enjoys a
stable, settled life with a history
of healthy relationship. He
understands the implications of the
charism of celibacy.
NATURAL
GIFTS:
He enjoys good health with no
debilitating conditions. He is a man
of proven maturity and balance,
recognized among his peers as one
having a genuine desire to serve the
needs of others. He is very generous
with his time and energy and is
highly flexible to the needs and
wishes of others.
SPIRITUALITY:
He is a man of prayer willing
to make personal sacrifices to be a
sacramental sign of Christ’s self-giving
love.
He is a man of faith who
professes what the Church teaches,
and participates faithfully in the
Church’s sacramental life.
He manifests Gospel values in
his lifestyle, and is a man of
integrity in family life, in
business and work, and in all his
relationship with others.
EDUCATION:
Graduation from high school
or its equivalent is required along
with the evident ability to complete
the necessary studies during the
formation period.
Credit for theological
studies previously completed will
not be given except after personal
evaluation by the Director, and then
only for courses pertinent to the
diaconate and recently completed.
EMPLOYMENT:
He possesses financial
security with a history of steady
employment.
It is expected that the
diaconate will be a part-time,
volunteer ministry for most deacons,
so that each must have a regular
source of income for supporting self
and family.
His employment,
furthermore, should not require
frequent travel or reassignments.
CHURCH/COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT:
The applicant should
have a history of active, service-oriented
involvement in the parish or
community.
He is able to work in a
cooperative spirit with the pastor
and other parish leaders.
DEACON
FORMATION:
After a year of Aspirancy, he
will be evaluated.
At the completion of the year
of Aspirancy, it will be determined
if he should be received as a
Candidate for the Order of Deacon.
He will then complete five
more years of formation with ongoing
evaluation before being called to
ordination by the Bishop.
Acceptance into the formation
program is no guarantee of
ordination.
DIACONAL
MINISTRY:
The applicant should be able
to discuss intelligently the
deacon’s role in parish life. He
sees service as the priority of
diaconal ministry and is sensitive
to social justice issues and the
plight of the poor. In addition to
the time spent in liturgical
celebrations, he must be willing to
serve twelve hours each week in
pastoral ministry without financial
remuneration, in an assignment
determined by the Bishop.
COMMITMENT:
He is willing to make a life-long
commitment to the Church and to
promise obedience to the Bishop.
CONTINUED
GROWTH:
As an ordained deacon, he
will be willing to develop his
pastoral skills and knowledge of the
faith through further study and
participation in programs designated
by the Diocesan Director for the
Diaconate.
(Applications
for the Permanent Diaconate Program
are not being accepted at present.) |
