Deacon Formation

Inquiry Period: (Duration— 1.5 years)

  • Discernment with family and pastor
  • Submission of Inquiry Form
  • Recommendation from Pastor
  • Orientation sessions
  • Interview with associate director of deacon formation
  • Submission of formal application
  • Submission of original certificate of baptism (with any notations, generally listed on the back) issued within the last six months. If confirmation and/or, if relevant, marriage are not listed in the notations, separate original certificates are also submitted.
  • Interview with Admissions and Scrutinies Team
  • Evaluations/recommendations submitted by pastor and others
  • Psychological evaluation (applicant only)
  • Recommendation for Approval, Rejection or Deferral by Admissions/Scrutiny Committee
  • Decision for admissions by Bishop

Aspirancy (Duration—1-2 years)

  • 6 Formation weekends
  • 8-10 small group meetings
  • Deacon mentor shadowing (aspirant only)
  • Spiritual Director consultations (spouse suggested)
  • Ministry experience: Extraordinary Minister of the cup, Lector, ministry to the poor (aspirant only)
  • Discernment and Theological reflection
  • History and theology of the diaconate
  • Fundamentals of liturgical theology (on-line classes)
  • Fundamentals of church history (on-line classes)
    • (On-line classes optional for spouses)
  • Evaluation and discernment by diocese
  • Three-day retreat and Rite of Admission to Candidacy

Candidacy I (Duration—1 year)

  • 6 Formation weekends
  • 8-10 small group meetings
  • Deacon Mentor shadowing (candidate only)
  • Spiritual Director consultations (spouse suggested)
  • Ministry experience: Extraordinary Minister of the cup, Lector, ministry to the poor (aspirant only)
  • Pastoral field education: Ministry to the sick (candidate only)
  • Discernment and Theological reflection
  • Church History (on-line classes)
  • Scripture (on-line classes)
  • Liturgical theology (on-line classes)
    • (on-line classes optional for spouses)
  • Canon Law I (summer course) - Candidate Only
  • Homiletics 1 (summer course) - Candidate Only
  • Three-day retreat and Rite of Institution of Lectors

Candidacy II (Duration—1 year)

  • 6 formation weekends
  • 8-10 small group meetings
  • Deacon mentor shadowing ( candidate only)
  • Spiritual Director consultations (spouses suggested)
  • Ministry experience: Extraordinary Minister of the cup, Lector, ministry to the poor, Acolyte (candidate only)
  • Pastoral Field Education: detention ministry experience (candidate only)
  • Discernment and Theological reflection
  • Liturgical theology
  • Church History (on-line classes)
  • Scripture (on-line classes)
    • (on-line classes optional for spouse)
  • Canon Law II (summer course) - Candidate only
  • Homiletics II (summer course) - Candidate only
  • Three-day retreat and Rite of Institution of Acolytes

Candidacy III (Duration—1 year)

  • 6 formation weekends
  • 8-10 small group meetings
  • Deacon mentor shadowing (candidate only
  • Spiritual Director consultations (spouse suggested)
  • Ministry experience: Extraordinary Minister of the cup, Lector, ministry to the poor, Acolyte (candidate only)
  • Pastoral field education: ecumenical and multicultural ministry experience (candidate only)
  • Discernment and Theological reflection
  • Church History (on--line classes)
  • Systematic theology (on-line classes)
  • Pastoral theology (on-line classes)
    • (on-line classes optional for spouses)
  • Ends with one-week retreat and Rite of Ordination

Ongoing formation of an ordained deacon continues at least until retirement at age 75.

Note: program requirements are subject to change.