Permanent Diaconate - Personal Quandry

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Dr. Bombay:
Just basing my response on what the OP said, David. He seemed to indicate his studies for the diaconate would cut into the time he spends with his family.

He can study for the diaconate later. His kids are only kids once.
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Thanks for the reply Dr. Bombay.

With that, then I agree with you. Guess that’s what I get for just skimming the thread. 😃
 
Dr. Bombay:
Concentrate on raising your kids. Your kids need a daddy more than the Church needs another Deacon.
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As ByzCath mentioned, it’s not an either\or.

I’m in my second year of formation, and I have 4 kids, the oldest of whom is 7.

In the case of men with younger children, maybe the Church needs a deacon with kids, and the kids need a daddy who’s a deacon.

Being a deacon is not a job or a role, it a change in who you are as a person. After Ordination, a deacon is a deacon in everything they do, including being a parent.
Just basing my response on what the OP said, David. He seemed to indicate his studies for the diaconate would cut into the time he spends with his family.
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He can study for the diaconate later. His kids are only kids once.
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Of course the study will have an impact on a family, I miss tucking the kids in 2 nights a week because I am down at the Seminary. But you balance that against what they will gain, many of which are intangeables, but are there none the less.

I would agree thought, that the men going through the program with teens seem to have the hardest time of it.

The teens have more things going on that the younger kids (sports, dances) that the parents need to be involved with, and the teens are usually less supportive of such a big change.

Mine are still at the stage where they think Daddy making Holy Water would be the coolest thing in the world 😃
 
There are many reasons why God shouldn’t have called you. But don’t worry … You’re in good company.

• Moses stuttered.
• David’s armor didn’t fit.
• John Mark was rejected by Paul.
• Timothy had ulcers.
• Hosea’s wife was a prostitute.
• Amos’ only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
• Jacob was a liar.
• David had an affair.
• Solomon was too rich … Jesus was too poor.
• Abraham was too old … David was too young.
• Peter was afraid of death … Lazarus was dead.
• John was self-righteous.
• Naomi was a widow.
• Paul was a murderer … So was Moses.
• Jonah ran from God.
• Miriam was a gossip.

— “Why God shouldn’t have called you,” Praise4thee.com. Retrieved January 6, 2003
 
Hi,

I would say go ahead and apply. If you think God is calling you, then applying is part of the discernment process. The Church will help you discern but you won’t know unless you apply.

Peace,
Gene
 
The new documents stress more exlicitly that the first step is to be accepted as an aspirant. You do not become a candidate until you are accepted as one after a year’s formation. This acceptance requires the decision of a board which makes a recommendation to the bishop. I think that if someone approaches his aspirancy with the proper attitude, he could accept – not without pain – the decision that he should not go on. Or, on the other hand, could decide to leave the formation program because he feels he is not called, finds the work too onerous, or realizes that family-wise, e.g., he needs to wait a while
 
Thanks again to all of you who have offered advice and suggestions! I have talked further with my Parochial Vicar and with a priest/friend who has been my mentor and teacher for many years. I will also be meeting with my Pastor again next week. They too have all provided good counsel and insights for me to consider. It will of course come down to a decision between my wife and I with our older children’s (name removed by moderator)ut in mind too. Thanks again for your help and your prayers! God bless!
 
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