The Vocation of the Deacon:An Orientation

Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D.

Director of Faith Formation, Diaconate and Pastoral PlanningDiocese of Monterey

Tonight

• 6:30 Opening Prayer, followed by Presentation: “The Vocation of the Deacon”

• 7:00 – 7:15 Q & A on Presentation

• 7:15 – 7:45 Conversation at each site

• 7:45 Final Q & A

Who is a Deacon?

An ordained member of the clergy, along with bishops and priests– A VOCATION from God,

discerned through the Church

– Ordained to act in the person of Christ the Servant and in the name of the Church

– No longer a lay person in the eyes of Catholic theology and law

Who is a Deacon?

Ordained BY the Bishop for service TO the Bishop throughout the Diocese– Not simply for a

particular parish– Wherever the

Bishop determines the need

– Don’t expect to go back to “home” parish

What Does a Deacon Do?

Like the Bishop (and Priest), a three-fold ministry:– Word– Sacrament– Charity

24/7/365: Not just when in church!

JPII: Purpose of diaconate: to place the Church’s ministers in new places

US BishopsNational Directory, #39

“By ordination, the deacon, who sacramentalizes the Church’s service, is to exercise the Church’s diakonia. Therefore, ‘the diaconal ministries, distinguished above, are not to be separated; the deacon is ordained for them all, and no one should be ordained who is not prepared to undertake each in some way.”

From the Vatican’s Directory:

“In every case it is important that deacons fully exercise their ministry: in preaching, in liturgy and in charity to the extent that circumstances permit. They should not be relegated to marginal duties, be made merely to act as substitutes, nor discharge duties normally entrusted to non-ordained members of the faithful” (Directory), 40.

Responding to the Vocation:How?

Prayer! Discussions with

spouse, children, pastor, deacons, friends

Prayer! Discussions with

diocesan office Prayer! Apply for

consideration for diaconal formation

Formation

Roughly FIVE years Process detailed by

Holy See, US Bishops, and Bishop Garcia

Beginning in Fall, 2014

Completed applications by 15 April

Interviews Selections in June Costs?

Three “Paths” of One Program

Three Paths:– aspirant– candidate– post-ordination

Each Path consists of the four dimensions essential to complete formation

Dimensions

Directory echoes Pastores Dabo Vobis and the Vatican Basic Norms– Human Dimension– Spiritual Dimension– Intellectual Dimension– Pastoral Dimension

Human Dimension

Aims to shape the minister to be “a bridge, not an obstacle, for others in their meeting with Christ.” (Basic Norms, 2)

ability to relate to others

Pope says this one most basic of all

Spiritual Dimension

Human dimension “leads to & finds its completion in the spiritual”

“constitutes the heart and unifying center of Christian discipleship”

objective: “to bring to fulfillment the new life received in baptism.”

Intellectual Dimension

“Substantial nourishment for the human & spiritual dimensions of his life”

knowledge of faith & church must be “complete & serious”

High school grad/GED; must be able to handle college/graduate level work

Pastoral Dimension

Integrated formation relates personal, spiritual & intellectual dimensions to pastoral practice

Five years

Two Saturdays per month, September through May– 9:00 – 3:00– “Academic” Day

(courses from SCU)– “Formation” Day

Annual Formation Retreat (weekend)

Summer Pastoral Assignments

Formation Team, Scrutinies Board, Deacon Advisory Board, Staff Bishop

Liturgical Steps:– Candidacy– Lector– Acolyte– Ordination

Final Observation: The Diaconate is NOT a

Program!