Application Turned In

[mozier]

Today I mailed off my application for my diocese’s permanent diaconate. Pending all goes well (and I feel it will), I will begin online courses this August or September.

Sigh. What a journey this has been. From the seminary of twenty years ago until now, I have discovered that God is indeed not finished with me yet when it comes to being called. And the best part of it now is that I have my wife with me! Without her, I would be nothing and this vocation re-awakening would never have happened.

Heavenly Father, I dedicate this journey to the permanent diaconate to You. Knowing that You would approve of this as well, I place it under the patronage of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the intercession of St. Benedict and St. Francis (himself a deacon). May the deacon committee and my peers always look favorably upon me, may my studies always be successful, and may my work and family life merge smoothly with this journey. And pending that it truly be Your will, may I kneel if front of the bishop in the year 2013 and become one of Your church’s deacons.

I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, with The Holy Spirit, Amen.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Keeping you in prayer that all will go well!..Blessings - Barb

 

[nicolep]

How exciting! My prayers are with you.

 

[Charybdis]

Way to go!! God Bless you!! I’m in the same boat. I just mailed off my application to the deaconate on June 11th!!

However, I do not know when I might start (if I’m accepted that is) since my new diocese does not have a bishop right now.

 

[SenorSalsa]

ugh, way to make me feel bad to continue procrastinating on my app.

Ive still got to write 3 or 4 more pages of an autobiography(it has to be 4-6 pages long) The problem is, im at page 1.5, and up to age 12. Im only 18, so theres not much left in my life. Plus my life hasnt been overly exciting to write about

 

[musicmantg11]

You’re in my prayers.

God Bless! +

 

[Spirithound]

Ive still got to write 3 or 4 more pages of an autobiography(it has to be 4-6 pages long) The problem is, im at page 1.5, and up to age 12. Im only 18, so theres not much left in my life. Plus my life hasnt been overly exciting to write about

lol, don’t worry, the past 6 years are probably the most interesting, relevant, and easily remembered

Oh, and praying for OP too

 

[Larowyn]

ugh, way to make me feel bad to continue procrastinating on my app.

Ive still got to write 3 or 4 more pages of an autobiography(it has to be 4-6 pages long) The problem is, im at page 1.5, and up to age 12. Im only 18, so theres not much left in my life. Plus my life hasnt been overly exciting to write about

Reread what you have written and try to embellish as much as possible. I know when I was 18 it was a real struggle to write two pages of anything so I would have had the same problem. I’m 23 now and I finished my senior thesis two months ago and it came out to twenty full pages; I can’t seem to write less than ten pages now and I can’t imagine how I can write a short 4-6 page autobiography.

I imagine that my autobiography will be a huge stumbling block for me when I get around to applying for the priesthood, especially when I write about my Catholic high school experience.

 

[Joannm]

Reread what you have written and try to embellish as much as possible. I know when I was 18 it was a real struggle to write two pages of anything so I would have had the same problem. I’m 23 now and I finished my senior thesis two months ago and it came out to twenty full pages; I can’t seem to write less than ten pages now and I can’t imagine how I can write a short 4-6 page autobiography.

I imagine that my autobiography will be a huge stumbling block for me when I get around to applying for the priesthood, especially when I write about my Catholic high school experience.

When writing an autobiography for an application, they are not looking for a “blow by blow” description of your entire life but the major turning points in your life, who influenced you, what major decisions did you have to make, and the biggest difficulties. When I was applying for the doctoral program I had to write one, 4pages only. Now I was 50 years old at the time. Lots to write about, a lot of water under the bridge, but I got it down to 4 pages. Now if I could do that at 50, certainly someone in their 20’s could do so easily.

 

[Fergal]

I pray for your success! Only this year the Church here in Ireland has introduced the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Dublin to being this September.

I am hoping that it will take hold in other Dioceses since I am residing in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. That failing I know that since I teach in the Archdiocese of Dublin I may be a candidate for the Archdiocese since they will accept applications from those not residing in the Archdiocese but who hold a significant ministry in the Archdiocese. I hope teaching is viewed as a significant Ministry!

I have given myself a year to really contemplate the calling even though I have had it since early childhood. I thought it was to the Priesthood but it was not. The tug never left and was most disconcerting at times since I am married and I could never understand how one could be married and still have the realisation of a deep call.

Now I understand what it is, I am not going to rush into the ‘first batch’,but will give myself a year of contemplation before I apply myself.

We will pray for one another.