While I always enjoy talking about the diaconate, the purpose of this series of ATW articles is to share some thoughts on the diaconate with my readers and to stir up a bit of interest in pursuing it as a vocation. I use the word “vocation” because it implies that the diaconate is a calling. It is something to which God is calling you. I’m not saying that everyone is called to the diaconate, though all Christians are called to be servants. However, if you feel an attraction to the diaconate based on what you have read or seen, God may be calling you. Your only honest response is to explore that call to see if it is God actually calling you to ministry or if it is merely something about which you are curious.
Since the diaconate is a permanent commitment to ministry in the church and involves a significant level of knowledge about ministry, Scripture, theology and similar skills, it requires a period of formation. Formation is meant to help the candidate more clearly discern if he has a calling to ministry, as well as help the formation directors and the bishop to discern that point as well. The process of formation for the diaconate in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa takes five years, which is the standard period of formation for the permanent diaconate in much of the world today. A number of years ago the Vatican published regulations for the formation of permanent deacons and the amount of material that they wanted covered required at least five years of formation to be done adequately.
The diaconate is a form of ministry that functions at a “professional” level nowadays. That is, the skill set involved in diaconal ministry is equivalent to other “professionals”, such as social workers, counselors, administrators, and teachers. Some dioceses require that an applicant for deacon formation be a college graduate. This is the case in the Diocese of Erie. The Diocese of Chalan Kanoa only requires that the applicant be capable of doing college level work, as the formation courses are all at the college level.
Age is another consideration in accepting candidates for deacon formation. In general, permanent deacons need to be at least 35 years old at the time of ordinaiton. Since the formation program runs for five years, applicants need to be at least 30 years old.
Some people have the idea that the diaconate is a ministry for retired men. While retired men are certainly welcome to apply for formation, it should be remembered that if you are too old at the time of application you will be five years older before ordination, which leaves relatively little time for actual diaconal ministry. The key issue is discerning your call to diaconal ministry and not your age. Every age has its challenges. The man in his thirties will prob ably have young children and many work, family and civic commitments, which will challenge him to find a workable balance between all of these commitments and ministry. The older man will have the burden of age and failing health to challenge his ability to effectively minister.
These challenges can be met with a bit of effort and a conscious attempt to find a healthy balance. I was ordained when I was 35 and now I’m 70. I’ve faced both the challenge of a young family and now the burden of health issues that come with gray hair and advancing years. It has been workable, even if it has been a challenge.
Speaking of married men, the diaconate allows married men to be ordained. Wives are asked and invited to take part in the formation process as well. They are welcome to take all of the classes along with their husbands, though they are not required to do so. They are invited to take part in the retreats and other formation activities. Deacon formation is not meant to place a wedge between the men and their wives; rather, it is an opportunity for them to grow together in their faith and understanding of the faith. One thing that is required, if a married man is to be ordained, is the permission of his wife. A man will not be ordained without his wife’s permission; in fact, he won’t even be accepted into the formation program without the permission of his wife.
Obviously, an applicant to the deacon formation program must be a Catholic in good standing and in full communion with the Church. After all, he is applying to be formed as a Catholic clergyman. Occasionally someone will feel drawn to the diaconate but is in a second marriage outside of the church. This is something that will need to be addressed through the annulment process before the man will be free to apply for deacon formation, as being in an irregular marriage is an impediment to ordination.
One of the things that the formation team looks for in an applicant is a history of ministry at the parish level. The grace of ordination builds upon the experience and talent that the applicant has shown over the years as an active and committed lay Catholic. Involvement in parish prayer groups, committees, religious education, and service groups all demonstrate involvement in the parish and are a big plus.
Given the abuse scandals and the emphasis on protecting the vulnerable from predators, police clearance is required of anyone who will potentially work with children. This is a healthy development, even if the means bringing it about were far from healthy. Thus, any applicant for deacon formation will need to provide police clearance before his application can be considered by the formation team.
The Diocese of Chalan Kanoa has put together an application form for anyone interested in applying for deacon formation. The application is available from the Diocesan Curia office next to Mount Carmel Cathedral. All of the needed information is spelled out in the application form.
Next week we will take a look at the actual formation process and what is involved in that over the five years of formation.
