On December 16, 2007, Bishop William L. Higi announced in the Catholic Moment the commencement of a third class for the permanent diaconate in our diocese and outlined the key admission criteria.   The process begins with a mandatory, day-long information session held on Saturday, February 23, 2008, at St. Joan of Arc parish in Kokomo.  The day will begin with Mass at 8:15 am.    Following the February 23, 2008, information session, men (along with their wives, if the man is married) will begin the discernment process and will be invited to return to St. Joan of Arc on Saturday, March 15, 2008, to pick up an application packet if interested in continuing in formation.   The application packets must be completed and returned no later than Saturday, May 17, 2008.

 The journey toward ordination in the permanent diaconate is intended to be a slow and deliberate process.   Even though one may feel called to holy orders, the process of discernment begins in earnest with formation.   Most individuals inquiring for the permanent diaconate have not had the opportunity to contemplate the depths of diaconal theology or the history of the order, nor have they been involved in the actual ministry and life of a deacon.   The process of formation allows the individual to discern these complex realities and determine if a vocation truly exists.  

In addition to engaging in a personal discernment, the man inquiring about the permanent diaconate must realize that the call is made through the Church.    Since the permanent diaconate is part of the hierarchy of holy orders and shares in the apostolic mission of the bishop, the vocation must be affirmed by the Church.   It is not enough that one feels personally called by God to serve.   The Church has been given the responsibility and the authority by Christ to determine if a call to holy orders is authentic.

Moreover, if the man discerning the permanent diaconate has received the sacrament of matrimony, his wife must consent to ordination since the vocation greatly affects the marriage bond.   Consent by the wife involves much more than saying “yes”.    The wife engages in a lengthy, independent discernment as to whether or not she believes her husband is indeed called to the diaconate and whether or not the marriage can support the demands of a diaconal vocation.

In addition to the co-discernments, the path toward ordination is demanding.   Men considering the permanent diaconate are formed and evaluated in four dimensions over a five year period.   The dimensions are: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral.  These same four dimensions are also required in the formation path toward priestly orders.   Both the Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have established standards for formation.  Formation for holy orders involves much more than learning skills and academics; it involves a holistic formation of the heart, mind and soul.

The four dimensions of formation involve determining whether one is able to relate well with others serving a bridge (and not a barrier) to life in Christ (the human dimension).   It seeks to ensure that a man is well grounded in the spiritual life (daily prayer, sacraments, liturgy, sacrificial living, growth, and Christian charity), which is the foundation of life in Christ (the spiritual dimension).    Formation strives to ensure that one is able to effectively spread the Good News of Jesus Christ by teaching, preaching and serving with the mind of the Church regarding a variety of theological subjects (the intellectual dimension).   And finally, formation confirms whether the man can effectively identify those who are in need, and in turn, extend Christ’s healing presence to them (the pastoral dimension).

The path of discernment and formation toward ordination in the permanent diaconate is ultimately about the submission of one’s will to serve others under the authority of the Church.   All are called to know, love and serve God by virtue of their baptism.    Diakonia is about a particular call that requires a radical form of humility and docility.    A deacon makes lifelong, sacred promises to serve the Local Church in obedience and respect to the bishop.   Do you feel you may be called to this ordained ministry of service?    If so, please come to the information session and learn more. 

Deacon Steve Miller is a parishioner of St. Maria Goretti, Westfield, and has served as the director of formation of the diocesan permanent diaconate program since 2005.