Applying to the Diaconate Program

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agp2176

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–deep breath–

Whew!

Hello all!

Tomorrow night I will be attending a ‘listening session’ as my first step in discerning a vocation to the diaconate. I have spoken with my fiance … we are getting married this fall … about it and she is 100% in support of my seeking this vocation.

We have talked about both being able to serve God and the church, and so we see this as a natural progression.

I had serious thoughts about becoming a priest back when I was a teenager in the early 70s – a true product of the wonderful nuns who thought me. And then, I discovered girls 🙂 , and well, suddenly to a 13 year old, becoming a priest lost its lustre.

Then 10 years ago, I turned my thoughts to the priesthood again, as I was in the wake of a failed marriage (she=not Catholic – atheist in fact – me=made a big mistake! - if God ever didn’t want someone to get married in the Church, it was then, and circumstances were that we didn’t.) But the time wasn’t right.

Years of pray, and growth in faith lead me to find a wonderful, faith filled woman, who became a Catholic this past Easter. In return, I feel that God has given me a great blessing and opportunity in that my pastor approached me to enter the program.

And so I turn to all of you, to ask your prayers that I may listen with an open mind and loving heart, and if it be God’s will, that I may be accepted into the program when such time comes, and God willing, ordained in 2013.

Is this where God wants me? I will go where He leads me.

In Christ’s Peace

Tony
 
Tony:

Your story sounds a lot like mine.👍 🙂 I was in my 50’s married and raised 4 children when I applied for the diaconate. I have been ordained for 21 years now. One caution, however, has do do with a young family while trying to do yor duties as a deacon. You will be torn between the two. Always remember that the order of priority for the married clergy is 1. family, 2. job, 3. ministry. Your first sacrement is your marriage. always remember that that is FIRST. You will still have to make a living since the church usually do not pay a salary for deacons. (This is seperate from being employed by the church). Then, when you have taken care of the first two, you;ll be able to do your ministering.

On formation, please make sure that you spouse is included in the classes. It is very important that she is aware of what is happening to you and can enjoy the journey with you. There worse than to see a candidate without his wife included. This can potentially bring about a division.

With all this, please discuss it with the director of the program as well as with your pastor. It’s a good idea to have a in depth discussion with your pastor now about the whole process and whether or not he is in favor of the diaconate. Some priests do not want deacons to serve with them (a reality of life.)

In any event, good luck to you. I hope things turn out the way you wish. The Holy Spirit will be the final decider.🙂

Peace!

Leonard
 
Good luck with it 🙂 You have my highest respect just fot checking into it :bowdown2:
 
Hello to all in regards to Diaconate;
I’ve been in the process for over a year putting together the
appplication (does not take that long) just cold feet, my last
part was getting signatures on it , My father brought me up to
the then Monsignor, now deceased, and told him he thought
i would make a good Priest. He said (the Fr.) bring him back
when he’s 18 , well that never happened, fast forward 20+ yrs
I finally applied to the Priest hood and was rejected , wow I said, never expected that.
that was about 3 yrs ago , not been an easy decision
albeit never married, no kids, this is something everyone else
said i would be good at it fits me , but I was never interested
enough. Peace please pray about this for me Doc.😉
 
Doc2004 said:
Hello to all in regards to Diaconate;
I’ve been in the process for over a year putting together the
appplication (does not take that long) just cold feet, my last
part was getting signatures on it , My father brought me up to
the then Monsignor, now deceased, and told him he thought
i would make a good Priest. He said (the Fr.) bring him back
when he’s 18 , well that never happened, fast forward 20+ yrs
I finally applied to the Priest hood and was rejected , wow I said, never expected that.
that was about 3 yrs ago , not been an easy decision
albeit never married, no kids, this is something everyone else
said i would be good at it fits me , but I was never interested
enough. Peace please pray about this for me Doc.😉
Click to expand...
I will add you to our prayer list here!

Doc are you discearning a diaconal vocation, or applying to another program of priestly formation/religious order? That is not clear to me.
 
Dear/To Simple sinner … sorry I thought i made it clear, I’m applying to the Diaconate program .so theres no confusion.
Peace Doc.
 
Cool!

Best of luck to you! This is a vibrant and growing area of ministry in the Catholic Church that we are really only just begining to utilize and discover the richness of…
 
AGP2176,

I will pray for you on your journey. I will be applying for the deaconate in October, that is when applications are accepted in my Dioceses. If accepted classes would start for me in Jan of 09 with about 4 1/2 years of formation. I have 3 children, 2 in college and one in high school. My wife is behind me 100% percent in this. 15 years ago if you would have said that I would (hopefully) become a deacon, I would have thought you were crazy, but God has been calling me to this for several years and I have finally run out of reasons why I can’t 🙂

Yours in Christ,

Stillkickin
 
WOW!

I had the same experience. When I was in HS I thought about the priesthood, but in my last year in college I met my wife. I am strongly considering becoming a permanent deacon, but am not sure what it entails. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I feel that I am still strongly being called to serve God and His people in this role.
 
Dear Stevedewsu;
just a word before proceeding with diaconate , consult your wife first, especially if you have kids, , its a four year commitment
generally on weekends. one per month, theres an application of course to fill out and referencesl, auto biography (self) plus other things too , consult your Pastor if not done already…
Peace in Christ Doc.👍
 
stevedewsu said:
WOW!

I had the same experience. When I was in HS I thought about the priesthood, but in my last year in college I met my wife. I am strongly considering becoming a permanent deacon, but am not sure what it entails. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I feel that I am still strongly being called to serve God and His people in this role.
Click to expand...
Agreed with Doc, consult the missus!

And then maybe sit down for a chat with some of the deacons in your parish or diocese and talk with them about what formation was like and what their work for the Church is like now…
 
Don’t forget to read “Goodbye, Good Men” before starting your diaconate program.
 
I will be starting my diocese’s deacon formation program starting next year in August. My wife is completely behind me.

My only concern is that I have become known around these parts as my parish’s Latin Mass “nutjob,” and I wonder if that will get me dismissed. I have no idea if the people on the “committees” are liberals or not, and so if I do last throughout the program, then I know that I have a vocation!

And yes, I do love our current Novus Ordo mass, too! But on a personal level, the Tridentine Latin Mass just does it for me, and I hope to someday serve it as a deacon.
 
I have applied to the Diaconate program and have been selected to go to the interviewing process. Please pray for me as I will for all of you.
 
Michael038 said:
I have applied to the Diaconate program and have been selected to go to the interviewing process. Please pray for me as I will for all of you.
Click to expand...
Davenport?

I know some of the people on the scrutinies committee. Whatever you do do not act like a trad or you will not ever see the first day of class.
 
agp2176 said:
–deep breath–

I have spoken with my fiance … we are getting married this fall … about it and she is 100% in support of my seeking this vocation.

Tony
Click to expand...
If you have not been married for quite some time the scrutinies committe along with the program director will likely put your deacon plans on the back burner. Some dioceses require 10 years of stable marriage before the process.

The church would be taking a big gamble on accepting on a marriage just out of the chute.
 
to Michael038

Thanks for the words albeit I already went tjru the process and
as with other members was denied / rejected based on my
Phsycological test for which i was totally honest . which
seemed to amazw the members of board and the Dr. that kind
of honesty they said they’ve not seen before , Am in missing
something here?? you mean guys are out there lying about
their lives… shane on them / you … Doc2004
G-d Bless guys stay close to JESUS CHRIST ALWAYS…

READ EPH 6:10-17
 
michael038 (and Tony)

Blessings to both of you as you consider your call to the Diaconate!

I am an aspirant in the Diaconate formation program in our diocese, here in Illinois. (Aspirancy is the first year of the program- discernment, prayer and reflection on our calling, along with course studies like theology and history of the Diaconate)

We have 2 classes left for this first year. We meet twice a week for 2 hours per night. Between travel, class, reading and homework assignments, I usually spend around 12-15 hours per week on the Diaconate program.

My wife attended the first course with me (as is required of wives) and she has given, and continues to give, her full consent (required) to my aspirations of becoming a deacon.

It has truly been an amazing journey so far. My faith has deepened and I have learned so much!

After this first year ends on May 8th, we begin a round of interviews and are possibly accepted into the full Candidacy phase which, lasts for 3 years.

Hopefully, I will be ordained in 2011.

I was baptized and confirmed into the Church in 1993. It wasn’t long thereafter that I felt a calling to pursue this path. (I didn’t even know what a deacon was at the time) We had toddlers back then and we decided to continue to pray on it. 10 years later, the timing became right and I sent a letter to my pastor… And now, Here I am…

If you have any questions regarding the processes or what we have encountered so far, feel free to contact me. I would be happy to help…

Blessings and Happy Easter!
 
Good luck to all those who are applying to become a Deacon!
I have sent in my application and associated paperwork. I too have been considereing the diaconate for quite some time. I have been married 22 and my wife is very supportive - and that is very very important. I have 3 children, 20, 18, & 14. If accepted (all applications are due at the end of this month) and by the time I would actually become a deacon my youngest would be off to college, so I felt that the timing for me was right.

Hoping everyone has a very Blessed Easter.
 
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