For Deacons and Deacon Candidates

[ICXCNIKA]

Deacons and Deacon Candidates:
I am in a Diaconate training program and would like to know more about your program or previous program. If you could please answer the following questions, I appreciate it.

(If you are not a Deacon or not Deacon candidate, please do not post on this thread).

1, How much are you being charged (or were you charged) to be in your program?
2. How much did (does) your diocese contribute to the cost of your training?
3. How orthodox is (was) your program? (In other words, what kinds of heterodox ideas are (were) you exposed to?)
4. Describe your training.
5. What is good about your training? What was good about your training?
6. What complaints do you have about your training?

Thank you. Hopefully this will help me in my own discernment.

 

[Joannm]

Deacons and Deacon Candidates:
I am in a Diaconate training program and would like to know more about your program or previous program. If you could please answer the following questions, I appreciate it.

(If you are not a Deacon or not Deacon candidate, please do not post on this thread).

1, How much are you being charged (or were you charged) to be in your program?
2. How much did (does) your diocese contribute to the cost of your training?
3. How orthodox is (was) your program? (In other words, what kinds of heterodox ideas are (were) you exposed to?)
4. Describe your training.
5. What is good about your training? What was good about your training?
6. What complaints do you have about your training?

Thank you. Hopefully this will help me in my own discernment.

I am not a deacon but my husband is. I also work in the diaconate formation program with aspiratnts. In our diocese the pastor (actually the parish) who nominates a candidate pays for the man for all four years. The diocese does not pay for the candidate to attend. I do not believe there are any heterodox ideas presented. All our candidates are instructed by seminary instructors (classes are held at the seminary) Aspirants and candidates take four graduate theology or ministry courses each year. If they are working toward the MA in Theology or Pastoral Studies they also have to eventually take some courses outside of the diaconate program. Those who are not qualified to enter the MA program still take the same basic diaconate courses but not for credit, yet they have to keep up with the work. There are also several days of recollection per year and three weekend retreats each year. Wives may attend classes but few do since they are all day on Saturdays and it is difficult if there are young children. Most of the men are very pleased with their training. They are all assigned a deacon mentor and a spiritual director. the men form a close community. They are expected to be involved in some ministry in the parish but due to the large amount of study involved in the program they should not be in a leadership role in ministry lest it take away from their studies. The only complaints I have heard is from the aspirants who complain about the work load in classes, but most of these men have not been in school for years since college and it is an adjustment to get back into the study mode. We get more complaints from the wives (who I also have worked with) who feel their husbands are taken away from the home for study and retreats.

 

[ICXCNIKA]

Thank you. I appreciate the information.

In my diocese candidates are responsible for $5,200 dollars a year for our training. Some parishes help with that, others do not. We meet once a month at a casino hotel and spend the weekend there. We have one retreat a year.

We study one subject a month and have a book that we are required to read. For instance, this month it is Old Testament. Many of the speakers at our monthly meetings are theologians from out of town, which adds to the cost.

There seems, to me, to be an underlying theme of women’s ordination. Several people in leadership as well as some speakers have made comments that lead me to believe they support women’s ordination.

Before I committ myself to another year, these are things I will have to discuss with our formation director and our Bishop.

 

[AspiringDeacon]

1, How much are you being charged (or were you charged) to be in your program?

We are not charged anything - it is all paid by the Archdiocese (not the Parish, as we are a servant of the Bishop)

1. How much did (does) your diocese contribute to the cost of your training?

All

1. How orthodox is (was) your program? (In other words, what kinds of heterodox ideas are (were) you exposed to?)

Just starting, but I would more describe this as a blen of Church teaching and pastoral care. Knowing the Doctrines and Dogmas of the Church is only one piece of the puzzle; there are times someone needs a hug and not a catechism lesson, and we are supposed to be learning when to listen to the Holy Spirit and apply each appropriately!

1. Describe your training.

Check out my blog for lots of details.

1. What is good about your training? What was good about your training?

prayforvocations.blogspot.com/

1. What complaints do you have about your training?

None yet - I have just started though.