Deacon Formation Program
The Journey to the Diaconate
It begins with Prayer and reflection. It continues with the sponsorship and support of the pastor who assists with discernment throughout the process.Family life before, during and after ordination remains an important priority. The formation and academic sessions require that the applicant and his wife commit considerable time away from the ordinary family routine. After ordination, the deacon’s wife and family continue to share in his ministry, primarily through their love and support. The stability of a deacon’s marriage and family is of the utmost importance. Thus, the sharing and presence of both the candidate/aspirant and his wife in every aspect of the program is essential. Without the participation of his wife and her formal consent in writing, a man will not be accepted into the program.
Diocese of Stockton Schema - Deacon Formation
Preparation for Aspirancy–Inquiry
Year I
Basic Faith Formation in the Diocese of Stockton School of Ministry, or its equivalent, is a pre-requisite for anyone seeking admission among the aspirants to diaconate. Pastors, faith communities and individuals are asked to contact the Director of the School of Ministry for information and/or evaluation of equivalency before application and recommendation to aspirancy to diaconate. It is recommended that individuals be involved in the life and ministry of the parish or faith community to which they belong.
Basic Faith Formation- two semesters: School of Ministry
First Semester:
Images of GodGrace/Sin/Redemption
Revelation/FaithMoral Principles/Conscience
Formation and Themes of ScriptureCommandments
JesusBeatitudes
Church/ TraditionHuman Dignity/Respect For Life
Mary/Communion of SaintsRecognizing and Reporting Abuse
Profession of FaithCatholic Social Teaching
Second Semester:
Sacramental TheologyMinistry
Baptism/Confirmation/RCIASpirituality/Prayer
EucharistAdult Faith Development
Penance/AnointingCommunication Skills
MarriageCollaborative Ministry
Holy OrdersCulture
LiturgyEcumenism
Evangelization
Group Formation
During the year of Inquiry, group formation is held quarterly. This consists of prayer and reflection with some time spent on the theology of the Diaconate, its history and place in the life of the Church.
Spiritual Direction
It is recommended that Inquirers and their wives begin the practice of spiritual direction in order to grow in their love of Christ and his Church. Through spiritual direction the Inquirer and his wife gain insight into their own spiritual lives and their relationship with one another,
Basic Faith Formation - Inquiry
Period of Aspirancy
The Pastor, on behalf of the community, presents a man to the Bishop and the Formation Team asking entrance to aspirancy to the Diaconate. It is important to note that entrance into the period of aspirancy is in no way an acceptance for candidacy for ordination. Rather, this period is a time of learning, prayer and discernment. Its purpose is to provide opportunity for acquiring knowledge of the theology and mission of the diaconate, further advancement in the knowledge of the faith and growth in the spiritual life. All are components of an intense discernment involving the individual, the educators, the formators and the diocese. It is during this period that a man, in collaboration with his wife, family and faith community, decides to seek candidacy for ordination to the diaconate.
The component parts of the period of aspirancy are:
- Advanced Faith Formation – Four semesters: School of Ministry
- Psychological Testing
- Program of Formation – Supervision, Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Experience
- Structured process of discernment
At the end of the period of aspirancy, the director of formation, in collaboration with the Formation Team, presents to the Bishop a comprehensive assessment of the suitability of the aspirants for candidacy. The Bishop then “enlists among the candidates for the diaconate only those about whom he will have reached a moral certainty of suitability.”
Advanced Faith Formation - Process of Formation – Process of Discernment
Advanced Faith Formation (Two Years)
Year II
Orientation/Christian Anthropology/Theological Reflection
Revelation and Tradition/Formation of Scripture
Overview of Hebrew Scriptures…Overview of Gospels
Acts of the Apostles/Overview of the Epistles
Apocalyptic Literature/Book of Revelation/Faith Development
Christology/Care of Self As Minister
Ecclesiology/Intro to Canon Law/Church Fathers & Doctors
History of the World-wide Church/of the American Church
Trinity/Mary
Retreat
Year III
Grace, Sin & Redemption/Moral Development/Conscience Formation
Liturgy/Sacramental Theology
Sacraments of Initiation/Sacraments of Healing
Prayer and Spirituality
World Religions/Culture
Evangelization & Catechesis/Public Speaking
Ethical Issues/Social Doctrine/Role of Family
Communication Skills/Group Dynamics/Collaborative Ministry
Ethical Minister/Canon Law #2-Practical Application
Retreat
Formation I (Two Years)(Group)
Group Formation IGroup Formation 5
Group Formation 2Group Formation on 6
Group Formation 3Group Formation 7
Retreat/Group Formation 4 Retreat/Group Formation 8
Formation II (Individual /Couple)
Each person who wishes to enter serious discernment as an aspirant to the Diaconate will be assigned a Formation Advisor with whom he will meet monthly for one hour. During these monthly meetings, special attention is to be paid to
Human Formation: The capacity to relate to others
Affective maturity/Sexuality
Growth in Married Life
Emotional/psychological freedom
Spiritual Formation:Increasing development in the way of discipleship already present in the aspirant
Learning to recognize the action of the Spirit
Learning to listen to and meditate on the Word of God
Learning the Way of Prayer
The meaning of service and sacrifice
Doctrinal Formation:Integration of the academic coursework with the life of the aspirant
Pastoral Formation: Learning the way of service (diakonia)
Practical theological reflection on the ministry the aspirant is involved with in his parish
Spiritual Direction
Throughout his formation, the candidate is to “secure the assistance of a spiritual director, to cultivate regular patterns of prayer and sacramental participation, and to reflect spiritually on his ministry.
The goals of the spiritual dimension during the candidate path in formation include the following:
- To help each candidate to increase in holiness by deepening and cultivating his commitment to Christ and the Church
- To assist the candidate in discerning whether he has a vocation to the diaconate
- To help him deepen his prayer life, personal,, familial communal and liturgical; and to instill in the candidate a commitment to pray daily for the Church, especially through the Liturgy of the Hours
- To strengthen the personal charisms he has already demonstrated in his life
- To help him integrate his new commitment to prepare for the diaconate with h is previous commitments to his family and professional employment
- To acquaint him with the relationship between spirituality and his commitment to the Church’s ministry of charity and justice
- To acquaint him with Catholic classical and contemporary spiritual writings and the witness of the saints
- To prepare him for the challenges of spiritual leadership that his ministry will entail
Assessment of Readiness
Formation Advisors will meet every other month a) for supervision and b) for evaluation of each aspirant’s progress.
Each aspirant will meet on an individual basis with the Director of Formation on a quarterly basis. This meeting is for the purpose of assessing progress, sharing the Formation Advisors’ evaluations and setting the direction for the coming quarter.
The conclusion of the aspirant path of formation is determined through a formal assessment conducted by the Formation Team. Recommendation is then made to the Bishop and the Deacon Board as to the suitability of the aspirant for candidacy for the Diaconate.
The Call to Ministry, The Liturgical Rites of Candidacy, Lector and Acolyte
Those men who have entered into serious discernment of God’s call to ministry are now called by the Bishop to the Order of Acolyte and the Order of Lector. If they have discerned God’s call todiaconal ministry ,the Bishop , having reached a “moral certainty of suitability” , enlists them into candidacy for ordination as deacon where the individuals publicly express their will to offer themselves to God and to His church in sacred orders.
Period of Candidacy: Formation For Pastoral Leadership and Practice
Year IV
Theology of Ministry- Collegiality and Collaboration
Self Knowledge-Theological Reflection
Personal Prayer, LectioDivina, The Divine Office
The Psalms; Designing and Presiding at Public Prayer
Ministry in the Parish: the nature of authority and obedience in the Church; working with pastoral teams
Introduction to Internship
Communication, Conflict Resolution, and Collaboration
Retreat Day, Scrutinies
The Liturgy of the Word: Theology of Proclamation; A Spirituality of the Minister of the Word
Hospitality; Death and dying, Ministry with Grieving
Pastoral Counseling; Addictions
Ministry of Charity and Justice
Theology of Marriage: Marriage Preparation
Nature of Relationsips; Healing relationships and annulments
Administration, Delegation, Supervision, Pastoral and Strategic Planning
Budgeting, Preparing and Running effective meetings, Tools for Ministry Evaluation
Year V
Sacraments: Pastoral Perspectives
A Theology of Orders
Understanding the Rite of Baptism
Training: Celebrating the rite of Baptism
The Eucharist: the rites
Training: Celebrating the Eucharist, Communion to the Sick, Communion Service, Benediction
Funerals: the rites; Ministering at Times of Death
Training: Celebrating the Funeral Outside of Mass
Weddings: the rites
Training-Celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony
Preaching: On Sundays and Weekdays-1
Preaching: On Sundays and Weekdays-2
Preaching: At funerals, weddings and baptisms
Training: Confirmations and diocesan Events
Professional Ethics, Boundary Issues for Ministers
The Ministry and Life of Deacons, the Relationships of the Deacon: The Bishop, the Diocese, the Priesthood, the Deacon Community, the Laity
The Ministry and Life of Deacons: Spirituality, State in Life, Deacons in the United States, Diocesan Handbook
Canonical Retreat
Ordination to the Deaconate
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