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Deacon_Ed_B
Guest
All I can say is that the pay is out of this world. Cuz thats when we are going to get it.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
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rotlex
Guest
Good day to all of you!
I found this thread, and wanted to subscribe as I am very seriously interested in pursuing the path to become a Deacon. I won’t go into lengthy detail as I have done that when I first found these forums a few months ago, but I have returned, in full, to my faith and the Catholic Church after being away for a very long time. The longer I have been back, and re-learning my faith, the more I have wanted to learn, well, even more. Not just that, but I have had a never ending “feeling”, if you will, that I NEED to do something more. I have yet to fully understand this, but something is drawing me this way.
With that said, a little about my current situation. I am a 40 year old man, who has been married to the same wonderful woman for nearly 19 years. We have a beautiful daughter, and another child on the way. We have become more active, and plan to be even more active, with our parish over the past months. I have yet to speak to our parish priest regarding my interest in this path, as I guess one of my biggest concerns is\are educational requirements. I have NO background in the studies I believe to be required to become a Deacon. I am more than willing to pursue them, but have some fear about my age and timing. (As silly as that might sound). Basically, my background and current career are 100% technical, and I do not have a college education, but rather technical training in the computer field. I’m hoping this will not be a severe hindernece in my quest, but I hope to find out soon.
Anyway, sorry for rambling on, and I look forward to learning from those more experienced in this thread, as well as reading their stories.
I found this thread, and wanted to subscribe as I am very seriously interested in pursuing the path to become a Deacon. I won’t go into lengthy detail as I have done that when I first found these forums a few months ago, but I have returned, in full, to my faith and the Catholic Church after being away for a very long time. The longer I have been back, and re-learning my faith, the more I have wanted to learn, well, even more. Not just that, but I have had a never ending “feeling”, if you will, that I NEED to do something more. I have yet to fully understand this, but something is drawing me this way.
With that said, a little about my current situation. I am a 40 year old man, who has been married to the same wonderful woman for nearly 19 years. We have a beautiful daughter, and another child on the way. We have become more active, and plan to be even more active, with our parish over the past months. I have yet to speak to our parish priest regarding my interest in this path, as I guess one of my biggest concerns is\are educational requirements. I have NO background in the studies I believe to be required to become a Deacon. I am more than willing to pursue them, but have some fear about my age and timing. (As silly as that might sound). Basically, my background and current career are 100% technical, and I do not have a college education, but rather technical training in the computer field. I’m hoping this will not be a severe hindernece in my quest, but I hope to find out soon.
Anyway, sorry for rambling on, and I look forward to learning from those more experienced in this thread, as well as reading their stories.
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Deacon_Ed_B
Guest
Steve - welcome to this thread. I note your interest in pursuing a possible vocation to the diaconate. I can oly say that for me, it has been a most rewarding vocation. Your first thought of speaking with your pastor is definitely the correct starting point He should be familiar with the guidelines, etc for your diocese and what the formation process entails. By all means, do be active in your parish, in whatever capacity your pastor may want to use you. An earlier post in this thread listed a reference to the guidelines established by the USCCB. Go over this thoroughly. It will be a tremendous help to know as much as you can about these guidelines when you speak to your pastor, as it will show him you have really looked into it in earnest. I will keep you in my prayers. Keep all of us in yours.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
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John_AH
Guest
Hello all,
I’m so happy that this thread was started. I am 29 years old and have a strong calling to be a Deacon. However I have a stronger calling to be married first. Still looking for a strong spiritual woman.
I know how I got my calling, I was reading what a Deacon was supposed to be and I was like “that’s me right now”!
Looking forward to the topics,
God’s faithful servant,
John H.
I’m so happy that this thread was started. I am 29 years old and have a strong calling to be a Deacon. However I have a stronger calling to be married first. Still looking for a strong spiritual woman.
I know how I got my calling, I was reading what a Deacon was supposed to be and I was like “that’s me right now”!
Looking forward to the topics,
God’s faithful servant,
John H.
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rotlex
Guest
Not to clog up the thread, but I simply wanted to say thank you to Deacon Ed for the response, and the kind words.
I’m looking at this as the next major step in my faith, as well as my life. It make take me years to accomplish this, but I am glad I have found this site, as well as countless helpful individuals that reside here.
Thanks again!
I’m looking at this as the next major step in my faith, as well as my life. It make take me years to accomplish this, but I am glad I have found this site, as well as countless helpful individuals that reside here.
Thanks again!
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OldRedleg
Guest
Deacon Ed,
Great idea to start this thread.
I’m currently in formation with a projected ordination date in early 2011.
Nothing to bring up now but I wanted to post to the thread so that I would get notified when others did.
God Bless all discerning a call.
Great idea to start this thread.
I’m currently in formation with a projected ordination date in early 2011.
Nothing to bring up now but I wanted to post to the thread so that I would get notified when others did.
God Bless all discerning a call.
D
Deacon_Ed_B
Guest
A warm welcome to all of you. For those who will be on retreat, you will especially be in our prayers that the Spirit may lead you to do only God’s will. Our Archdiocese will have ordinations for the diaconate tomorrow. We have just under 20 being ordained. I will not be able to make the ordinations as I have to be elsewhere. Please hold all of them in prayer and all those in formation and considering this wonderful way of life, not just in my Archdiocese, but all over, wherever they may be.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
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TimS_AR
Guest
Our diocese is starting a new class. The last permanent diaconal class was ordained in 2002. I attended an information session in 1998 for that class, but did not apply. I thought I wasn’t up to that commitment level.
With our youngest now in college, and having become more involved in the parish and I now feel I have the time to commit to this service. I have applied, been interviewed, and am waiting to see if I’ve been accepted.
I have been a lector at our parish since I was a young adult. Even in grade school and high school (CYM Sundays) I was a reader. However, in the past ten years I’ve become an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and my wife and I have been bringing Communion to the sick and shut-ins.
When we were being trained to administer Holy Communion to the sick, we were told “You’ll get more out of it that those you administer to”. NO TRUER WORDS WERE EVER SPOKEN!
Serving others makes us closer to God!
Wish me luck, and I’m glad I found this thread.
Tim S.
With our youngest now in college, and having become more involved in the parish and I now feel I have the time to commit to this service. I have applied, been interviewed, and am waiting to see if I’ve been accepted.
I have been a lector at our parish since I was a young adult. Even in grade school and high school (CYM Sundays) I was a reader. However, in the past ten years I’ve become an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and my wife and I have been bringing Communion to the sick and shut-ins.
When we were being trained to administer Holy Communion to the sick, we were told “You’ll get more out of it that those you administer to”. NO TRUER WORDS WERE EVER SPOKEN!
Serving others makes us closer to God!
Wish me luck, and I’m glad I found this thread.
Tim S.
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Deacon_Ed_B
Guest
You are in our prayers Tim
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
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Deacon_Ed_B
Guest
In case any of you have been wondering, as was I, I found that this thread was moved to the topic “Vocations”. which is where I should have started it. My apologies to the moderators for not starting it in the correct section.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
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Volodymyr_988
Guest
I am discerning the call at least to the Diaconate.
I’m leaving my options open.
I’m leaving my options open.
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Praxis
Guest
The first class of deacons was ordained about 2 years ago in my diocese and I have some questions about our deacon.
For nearly two decades before our first formation ever began he routinely told people he was a deacon. I cornered him one day and he admitted not to being a deacon, but he claimed to have a certificate from the bishop that proved he was an acolyte. I asked to see the certificate and he never produced it.
He was an adult altar server who did as he pleased – he would re-position his chair next to the celebrant, he refused to carry the processional cross, he would prepare the gifts, etc. (Yes, for a long stretch we had some rather challenged pastors.) He would (horribly) lead Rosaries at funeral homes and conduct graveside services where he would announce that he was a deacon. I thought the honor guard was going to shoot him one day because they caught him lying about being a Marine.
He was a chaplain of sorts at the local state prison and county jail. That is, until he arranged for a released inmate to shack-up with a fellow parishioner. The state found out about it and forbade him to enter their facilities and the county and feds followed the state’s lead. Those facilities are still off limits to him.
When the first group of men accepted for the diaconate was announced, his name was not on it! That was stunning to all. It was one of the most powerful examples in my life that the Holy Spirit was now in charge. Our bishop and pastor were both still effete yet this man had been rejected for the formation. Many of us were stunned in the most positive way.
Two weeks later after some back-door negotiations (of which I am not privy but I do know of some people that refused to write him letters of recommendation) he was accepted. One could only pray now that the formation would do its job and transform this man.
About six months before he was ordained, he would abruptly choose to read the Gospel and preach during Mass, usually with our shocked Spanish-speaking priest looking on. A deacon friend of mine from another diocese said this was serious and that it could prove to be an impediment to his ordination. When I asked the priest in charge of the formation, he told me (and others) to mind my own business.
Today he is an ordained deacon. He can barely read the Gospel which answers the question why he never read while playing super altar server until he was close to ordination. He has preached at Masses and it’s…painful. Thankfully they now note in the bulletin when he will preach so people can plan to go to other Masses – and they DO!
We have a capable and strong pastor so he doesn’t get away with games anymore during the Mass (although he does have the reader process his Book of Gospels so he can look more like a priest.) Our new bishop is also wonderful – most here don’t believe he would be allowed into the formation today.
After all that my question is, why bother? If a man like this guy can become a deacon and the Church allows it, why bother? He had dragged-down the image of what a deacon does to such a low level in my parish that to be honest, I wouldn’t want to be associated with him.
The only reason I ask is because some men I admire (both clergy and lay) have asked me repeatedly to consider the permanent diaconate. I have felt a very strong pull towards that vocation for a few years now but when I stop and think of my parish’s deacon I wonder…
Why bother?
For nearly two decades before our first formation ever began he routinely told people he was a deacon. I cornered him one day and he admitted not to being a deacon, but he claimed to have a certificate from the bishop that proved he was an acolyte. I asked to see the certificate and he never produced it.
He was an adult altar server who did as he pleased – he would re-position his chair next to the celebrant, he refused to carry the processional cross, he would prepare the gifts, etc. (Yes, for a long stretch we had some rather challenged pastors.) He would (horribly) lead Rosaries at funeral homes and conduct graveside services where he would announce that he was a deacon. I thought the honor guard was going to shoot him one day because they caught him lying about being a Marine.
He was a chaplain of sorts at the local state prison and county jail. That is, until he arranged for a released inmate to shack-up with a fellow parishioner. The state found out about it and forbade him to enter their facilities and the county and feds followed the state’s lead. Those facilities are still off limits to him.
When the first group of men accepted for the diaconate was announced, his name was not on it! That was stunning to all. It was one of the most powerful examples in my life that the Holy Spirit was now in charge. Our bishop and pastor were both still effete yet this man had been rejected for the formation. Many of us were stunned in the most positive way.
Two weeks later after some back-door negotiations (of which I am not privy but I do know of some people that refused to write him letters of recommendation) he was accepted. One could only pray now that the formation would do its job and transform this man.
About six months before he was ordained, he would abruptly choose to read the Gospel and preach during Mass, usually with our shocked Spanish-speaking priest looking on. A deacon friend of mine from another diocese said this was serious and that it could prove to be an impediment to his ordination. When I asked the priest in charge of the formation, he told me (and others) to mind my own business.
Today he is an ordained deacon. He can barely read the Gospel which answers the question why he never read while playing super altar server until he was close to ordination. He has preached at Masses and it’s…painful. Thankfully they now note in the bulletin when he will preach so people can plan to go to other Masses – and they DO!
We have a capable and strong pastor so he doesn’t get away with games anymore during the Mass (although he does have the reader process his Book of Gospels so he can look more like a priest.) Our new bishop is also wonderful – most here don’t believe he would be allowed into the formation today.
After all that my question is, why bother? If a man like this guy can become a deacon and the Church allows it, why bother? He had dragged-down the image of what a deacon does to such a low level in my parish that to be honest, I wouldn’t want to be associated with him.
The only reason I ask is because some men I admire (both clergy and lay) have asked me repeatedly to consider the permanent diaconate. I have felt a very strong pull towards that vocation for a few years now but when I stop and think of my parish’s deacon I wonder…
Why bother?
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Deacon_Ed_B
Guest
I can only say discuss this in detail with your pastor and bishop ifyou are able. Have others who have witnessed all this accompany you so there is corroboration of testimony. And then follow what your pastor and/or bishop have to say.
On another level, I do not want this thread to deteriorate into a “whats wrong with this scenario”, but rather one for deacons and prospective deacons to use is discussing and discerning vocations.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
On another level, I do not want this thread to deteriorate into a “whats wrong with this scenario”, but rather one for deacons and prospective deacons to use is discussing and discerning vocations.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
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FAB
Guest
I have seen this post previously when the subject of deacons came up. Although I can’t address the truth of the story, but if there was truely a problem with this individual, it could be addressed with your bishop. But, since, like I said this story has been posted before, I think something else is going on. It may be you have an ax to grind with this person and perhaps you need to look into yourself to see why you have such a dislike for him.
If you are drawn toward vocation, you will need to find forgiveness and understanding as well as acceptance for others. Remember, we are called to love out neighbor as ourselves.
Peace,
FAB
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Celibate_Son
Guest
I am currently divorced and seeking annulment. (It was my first and only marriage).
Regardless of the success of the annulment my discernment is persistent.
I have investigated many options and am in no rush. I have considered several secular orders, charisms, and groups. Not out of confusion, but rather out of practicality at the recommendation of my spiritual advisor who has recommended that I seek “where God may be calling me to serve”. My thoughts somehow seem to return to my diocese and local parishes.
Though I regret never pursuing priesthood when I had the opportunity, I also have a feeling of possible usefulness within my diocese and I have had the luxury of observing several well-rounded and ministry-minded deacons who have made quite an impression on me.
I am happily chaste as it pertains to my current state and would look to be a deacon who leads a celibate lifestyle. That is, if God graces me with the option to serve in the capacity of a deacon, of course.
As a practical person who likes to believe he makes sound judgments, am I putting the cart before the horse? How much of an impediment is divorce when seeking to serve God as a deacon?
With gratitude…
Regardless of the success of the annulment my discernment is persistent.
I have investigated many options and am in no rush. I have considered several secular orders, charisms, and groups. Not out of confusion, but rather out of practicality at the recommendation of my spiritual advisor who has recommended that I seek “where God may be calling me to serve”. My thoughts somehow seem to return to my diocese and local parishes.
Though I regret never pursuing priesthood when I had the opportunity, I also have a feeling of possible usefulness within my diocese and I have had the luxury of observing several well-rounded and ministry-minded deacons who have made quite an impression on me.
I am happily chaste as it pertains to my current state and would look to be a deacon who leads a celibate lifestyle. That is, if God graces me with the option to serve in the capacity of a deacon, of course.
As a practical person who likes to believe he makes sound judgments, am I putting the cart before the horse? How much of an impediment is divorce when seeking to serve God as a deacon?
With gratitude…
F
FAB
Guest
Once your annulment is complete, your divorce should not be an (name removed by moderator)ediment. The annulment is afterall a process that should provide some healing. In your dicernment, you should know that a single man, once ordainded as a deacon cannot marry. It may be your thought now, that you may not ever want to go down that road again, but it is certainly something to consider. Continue to pray and God will lead you to your answers.
Peace,
FAB
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Praxis
Guest
Thanks for the counsel and I hope my comments did not derail your thread…
Your advice would have been of no value under my old pastor and bishop. Today the sort of conversation you suggest would make sense and it is something I would have to undertake before I would ever file my application papers.
There is a reckoning of sorts going on right now that I am carefully studying. He is performing abhorrently as a deacon in a liturgical sense and I believe that is because the guidance of the Holy Spirit was not followed. I really want to see how this “plays out.”
Thank you.
P
Praxis
Guest
Oh, I agree! While I don’t have an ax to grind with him, I do find him extremely offensive (as do others) even today. While I most certainly have forgiven him (and will continue to strive to do so if he offends me again), I have found it VERY DIFFICULT to forget how he has played the Church and my parish. My confessor directed me to avoid this man as much as I can and that has been of great benefit.
But yes, it would be nice to forgive AND forget and just get a long…
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Charybdis
Guest
I would think that in this situation of a deacon behaving horribly, that the system would eventually weed him out during his reviews by the bishop. If he is as bad as you say he is, then perhaps the Spirit will take care of it in the end, but His will is sometimes not for us to know right now!
You had asked, ‘why bother?’ Because one bad apple does not spoil the cart! Just because one sins horribly, do we not even bother striving to become Christ-like? Do we throw in the towel on our Christianity? I say no! Take the example and rise above it. Show the rest what it would be like to be a humble servant of the Lord!
On another note, I just received the handbook for the new diocese where I will be moving to in August. I have seen about the psychological tests that are administered to applicants. What does this consist of? Should there be anything to worry about in these psychological tests? How are they administered? By whom?
You had asked, ‘why bother?’ Because one bad apple does not spoil the cart! Just because one sins horribly, do we not even bother striving to become Christ-like? Do we throw in the towel on our Christianity? I say no! Take the example and rise above it. Show the rest what it would be like to be a humble servant of the Lord!
On another note, I just received the handbook for the new diocese where I will be moving to in August. I have seen about the psychological tests that are administered to applicants. What does this consist of? Should there be anything to worry about in these psychological tests? How are they administered? By whom?
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Praxis
Guest
That is what I am watching…
I guess I worry about my own inadequacies and hope that the formation would nourish (and prune and polish) me to a point where I would necessarily be a good representative of the Church. If this guy got through, any male can.
In my diocese they administer standardized psychological tests for one’s occupation and personality. I did go so far as to take (and “pass”) those. They are no big deal unless you are truly a nutter or if you happen to believe some things contrary to what the Church teaches or directs.
One person I know is HIGHLY inflexible and he believes certain things no directed or taught by the Church. He is a “hyper-traditionalist” and was therefore rejected.
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