Becoming a deacon is considered a vocation that one comes to through prayer and discernment, not only alone, but with his wife and children if they are young. Yes, a deacon can be retired but there are age limits. In our diocese you have to be under 63 to be ordained. Formation is 5 years so that means you have to be 57 to start formation. Deacons are not paid unless they hold some other job in a parish, such as business manager, DRE, Pastoral Associate. So you have to be able to support yourself and your family. You have to be nominated by your pastor or a diocesan office. Formation consists of graduate level theology courses but you don’t have to get an MA to be ordained, at least in our diocese. Usually a deacon is assigned to his own parish, but in our diocese, the bishop has the freedom to move you to another parish within the deanery if there is a need. I worked in diaconate formation and my husband is a deacon so that is how I know this, but things could be a bit different in your diocese.I have a few questions about becoming a decon. First, If a person is retired from a career, can he then become a decon? Are decons paid? Would a person be required to move, or does the bishop assign a decon to a parish near his home?
Thank you all in advance for your answers. These may seem like simple questions, but they are important.