Diaconate Information

The Applicant | Regarding Age | Irregularities and Impediments | The Process | General Information for the Applicant | The Application Process | Questions and Answers

Bishop Wenski and Ordained Deacons pictured here with their wives - Year 2007.

The first diaconal profile was outlined in the First Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy: “deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain; they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. “And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons...” Let deacons be the husband of one wife, and let them manage their children and their households well; for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Jesus Christ” (1 Tim 3:8-10.12-13).

The qualities listed by Paul are prevalently human, almost as if to say that deacons could carry out their ministry only if they were acceptable models of humanity. We find echoes of Paul's exhortation in texts of the Apostolic Fathers, especially in the Didachè and Saint Polycarp. The Didachè urges: “Elect for yourselves therefore, bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, meek men, not lovers of money, honest and proven”, and Saint Polycarp counsels:

“In like manner should the deacons be blameless before the face of his righteousness, as being the servants of God and Christ, and not of men. They must not be slanderers, double-tongued, or lovers of money, but temperate in all things, compassionate, industrious, walking according to the truth of the Lord, who was the servant of all”.

The Church's tradition subsequently finalized and refined the requirements which support the authenticity of a call to the diaconate. The qualities required of applicants for the diaconate in the Diocese of Orlando include men who:

• are of sound faith
• are motivated by the right intention
• are endowed with the requisite knowledge
• enjoy a good reputation
• have moral probity
• have proven virtue
• possess other physical and psychological qualities appropriate to the diaconate

The Applicant

The profile of candidates requires certain specific human qualities and evangelical virtues necessary for diakonia.

Among the human qualities are:

• psychological maturity,
• capacity for dialogue and communication,
• sense of responsibility,
• industriousness,
• equilibrium and prudence.

Among the evangelical virtues are:

• dedication to prayer,
• Eucharistic and Marian devotion,
• a humble and strong sense of the Church,
• love for the Church and her mission,
• a spirit of poverty,
• a capacity for obedience and fraternal communion,
• an apostolic zeal,
• openness to service,
• charity towards the brothers and sisters.

Additional values include:

• be active members of a Christian community
• already have exercised praiseworthy commitment to the apostolate
• they may come from every social grouping
• may carry out almost any work or professional activity, providing that it is not, according to the norms of the Church and the prudent judgment of the bishop, inconsistent with the diaconal state. Such activity must be compatible in practice with commitments of formation and the effective exercise of the ministry

A prospective aspirant should:

• have full consent of his wife and family. Wives will be full participants during the formation process.
• have the recommendation and support of his pastor
• be in good physical and mental health
• be of sound moral character and live according to the precepts of the Church
• have secure employment history and be self supporting
• be fully initiated into the Catholic Church for at least five years
• if married be in a very stable canonically valid marriage for at least five years
• if divorced have a valid decree for at least five years and no previous divorce(s)
• If single be committed to a lifetime of celibacy
• reside in the Diocese of Orlando
• have a record of ministry and service to the parish and the community
• should not anticipate moving for at least five years after ordination
• be a citizen of the United States
• have received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist
• must not have received the sacrament of holy orders before
• must not have been removed, for cause, from any other diaconate formation programs
• if married must be in a sacramental marriage
• may not have been divorced or married to a divorced person
• may not participate in a life style that may, in any way, bring scandal to the Church
• must live in complete harmony with all the teachings of the Church as expressed by the Pope and the Magisterium of the Church and the Bishops of the Province of Miami
• must be able to attest by oath to the following statement: “I agree with and I am living my life in accordance with all the teachings of the Catholic Church including, but not limited to, artificial birth control, voluntary sterilization (both my spouse and I) and a that I am living a celibate life style appropriate to my state in life.”

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Pictured Right: Deacon Lapointe

Regarding Age. All applicants must be at least 30 years of age. In the Diocese of Orlando the candidate must be ordained no later than the age of 65 (must enter the program before age 60).

Irregularities and Impediments--- The candidate must be free of irregularities and impediments as defined by the Code of Canon Law. This means:

• have received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist.
• must NOT have received the sacrament of holy orders before
• must not have been removed, for cause, from any other diaconate formation programs
• if married must be in a sacramental marriage

Diaconal formation in the Diocese of Orlando is a five year discernment and formation experience. The foundational document for the Diocese of Orlando formation experience is the "National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States" [NORMS], published by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop's Committee on the Diaconate.

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The Process

(1) Phase One ‑ The Inquiry Phase ‑ The formation of a deacon begins with an "inquiry phase" followed by the "aspirant path". The Inquiry Phase includes attending information nights, talking with your pastor and other deacons helping to answer the questions; what is the diaconate all about and is it for me? During this phase application and exploration are taking place. If the inquirer is admitted to the aspirant path which will last about one year, he enters a structured period of discernment and spiritual direction.

(2) Phase Two ‑ The Aspirant Phase/Path ‑ The Second phase of the formation process is the Aspirant path. It begins with official acceptance into the aspirant period marked with a letter from the bishop. The aspirant path is primarily a time to discern the readiness of the participant to be nominated to the bishop for acceptance as a candidate for diaconate ordination. Before this he was not enrolled in a diaconate program but was in a period of discernment.

Pictured Left: Deacon and Mrs. Breaud

(3) Phase Three ‑ The Candidacy Phase/Path ‑ The Third phase of the formation process is the "Candidacy phase" which includes an authentication of the individual's vocation and academic and service preparation. In the Diocese of Orlando this phase takes place as part of the Diocesan Lay Pastoral Ministries Formation Program (LPM). The candidacy phase also includes monthly meetings with the Associate Director, Formation for continued diaconal exploration and spiritual formation to aid in the discernment process.

(4) Phase Four ‑ The Sacramental Phase/Path ‑ The fifth year is a final preparation year during which time sacramental and liturgical preparation (liturgy practica) takes place. This phase also includes deep personal reflection and spiritual exploration. During this year the man is installed as a diaconal candidate and is immersed in the scrutanies which mark his as a candidate for orders. This Path prepares the candidate for the orders of Acolyte and Lector.

(5) Phase Five ‑ Post Ordination Formation Phase/Path ‑ The final, but continuing, path of the formation process is the Post Ordination Path in Diaconate Formation. Ongoing formation should provide the deacon with many opportunities to continue to develop and integrate the dimensions and perspectives of formation into his life and ministry.

(6) Deacons ordained after 2002 who desire to incorporate preaching in their ministry must apply for the preaching license. They are required to complete scripture and homiletics program offered by the Diocese of Orlando or an ordained deacon may complete an approved Masters Degree (or Doctorate) program in theological studies to satisfy ONLY the scripture portion of his license requirement. The homiletic portion must be accomplished through the Diocese of Orlando program. Before commencing any such studies, approval should be sought from the Diaconate Office. There is no incardination process for Permanent Deacons in Orlando. Extern deacons who apply for faculties after moving from another diocese will be evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis. The preaching faculty will be granted based upon documented scripture and homiletic formation, experience, and the recommendation of his pastor. Upon successful completion of these requirements the deacon’s pastor may request permission form the Bishop to have the deacon preach at Sunday liturgy. All costs involved in meeting these post ordination requirements will be met by the deacon or his parish.

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General Information for the Applicant

Length of process --- five years for all candidates with a new class starting on the even years – All candidates MUST participate in the full five year program including three years in lay pastoral ministry training.

The FIRST STEP is to develop a relationship with your pastor and discuss your interest in the diaconate with him. If he is ready to support your application for the diaconate HE should contact the office of the Diaconate and request an application packet for you. Packets will only be mailed to pastors.

Age 35 to 65 at ordination. Orlando the candidate must be ordained no later than the age of 65 (must enter the five year program before age 60).

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The APPLICATION PROCESS begins with the prospective candidate discussing his possible vocation with his pastor. The pastor is the only person who may request an application packet. After the application has been received at the Diaconate Office the prospective aspirant will be contacted to set up an application interview.

An aspirant (first year) class is formed every other year [in August of the even years]. Information nights are conducted around the Diocese in the spring of these even years.

Aspirants must be active in parish programs at the time of application. Only the parish pastor may request an application packet.

Classes generally meet one weekend each month.

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. How is the program designed?

Answer: The National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) has approved a 160-page document that establishes standards or “norms” for the formation of deacons in the United States (“National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States). The NCCB is taking this action based on two documents released by the Congregation for Clergy and the Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome. The second of these documents was the “Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons.

2. What happens to men who have already been commissioned as Lay Pastoral Ministers?

Answer: This is not the preferred sequence for formation training and does not “speed up the process” at all, in fact it could extend the overall program. Some men may function as Lay Pastoral Ministers for a period and then desire to explore the diaconate. Men in this situation will have to fit into the five-year program for their two “diaconate years”. This will be handled on an individual, case by case basis. If their application is accepted they would be incorporated into the next aspirancy year and then the next scheduled sacramental year (there will be a year break in training).

3. Do wives participate with their husbands during formation?

Answer: YES! Wives are required to attend all formation training sessions and to participate in all discussions.

4. As a deacon will I be working for the Church?

Answer: NO! While you will be functioning in the name of the Bishop of Orlando and be ordained by him, you will not be employed by the Diocese of Orlando or any parish because you are a deacon. Some deacons work for a parishes as a member of the parish staff however, they are not employed “as deacons”, they fill other parish positions. Being ordained does not provide a specific opportunity for employment.

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