Pursuing the Diaconate After a Post Grad Degree

[tpg]

I’m a married hospital chaplain with a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology. I’ve felt drawn to the Deaconate for years. I’ll be 35 soon and was considering speaking with my parish priest about discernment. Has anybody had any experience with how a degree may inform the formation process? Just curious. Thanks!

 

[Greenfields]

Hello tpg,I will bump your thread up to see if someone can reply,God bless.

 

[AndrewAxland]

I’ll be 35 soon and was considering speaking with my parish priest about discernment

I’d go ahead and talk to your priest already, or the vocations minister at the diocesan chancery. I don’t think you’re likely to get a useful answer here that applies to your own circumstances and location.

 

[Rob2]

I’m a married hospital chaplain with a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology. I’ve felt drawn to the Deaconate for years. I’ll be 35 soon and was considering speaking with my parish priest about discernment. Has anybody had any experience with how a degree may inform the formation process? Just curious. Thanks!

Best wishes for whatever the future holds for you .

I know this is not what you asked , but advice I would give to anyone facing a major decision is to go on retreat which uses the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola .

 

[tpg]

I appreciate everybody’s (name removed by moderator)ut! It’s obvious that the best source of information on this fairly specific subject would be my pastor. I was just extending my private curiosity to the fine folks of the forum to see if anybody had knowledge of similar situations. Thanks!

 

[Mi_Rose]

Formation in every diocese is different. Please take this up with your Diocesean Office of the Diaconate.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

As far as I know all dioceses require the wife to be supportive and most will not accept men with small children as it could contribute to the neglect of their faith formation as the diaconate is a huge time sink.

 

[vallancec]

Talk to your pastor or the vocational office to see what they say. I will tell you if you have young children or are planning to have children they may ask you to wait. However where you are a hospital chaplain and you have a masters in Pastoral Theology than may put you ahead of the game. I’ll say a prayer for you.