2023-2027 Deacon Formation Cohort

There are standards of admission to help the Church provide the people of God with the best possible ordained ministers. You are encouraged to carefully and prayerfully read through the following list of considerations, which represent the basics needed to enter the program. If you cannot answer these considerations positively, then the diaconate is likely not for you – at least, not at this time. If there are one or two considerations about which you are unsure, please talk with us about them. We will do our best to help you decide whether to apply at this time. If you can affirm these considerations, then return to prayer and ask the Lord to bless your next step of completing and mailing the application forms.

The following considerations apply to all applicants:

• You must be a baptized and confirmed Catholic male normally between the ages of 30 and 55. By Canon law, the earliest you can be ordained is age 35.  Men 56 – 60 years of age will be considered if in good health.
• You must be active in and in good standing with the Church and your parish. At a minimum, this means:
  • You are faithful in attending Mass and regular in Confession.
  • Prayer is integral to your life.
  • You have a relationship with Jesus.
  • You accept and support the Church in her teachings.
  • You are perceived as a man of integrity within the community.
  • You cannot have been Catholic, formally joined another Church and returned to Catholicism.
• You must be willing to serve the Church under the direction of the Bishop.
• You must be in good physical health – sufficiently active and energized to endure the rigors of the formation program and later the demands of ministry. Physical stamina is essential.
• You must be a mature person, in good psychological health and free of addictive behaviors.
• You must be able to study and pass the courses. Courses are taught at a college course level. Academic achievement is important.
• You must be able to make a substantial time commitment to formation for a total of four consecutive years.  The time commitment for the four years of formal formation full participation in online academic classes.  The preset curriculum has been designed to meet the diaconal formation requirements outlined by USCCB and will be accomplished one at a time.  These classes are year-round with breaks for Christmas and Easter.  Physical participation by the aspirant/candidate and their wives (if they have one) is seven weekends (5 pm Friday evening through noon on Sunday) and an annual three-day retreat. These weekends are held, no more than one per month, between September and June.  Of course, these refer only to times when physical presence is required. Study, reading and prayer time is over and above this minimum.  Note: Time and availability are a critical key factor in deciding whether to continue the application process.
• You should have a clear history and record of charitable service and outreach to others, especially those who are marginalized. This service can be within your parish or the Church and/or it can be civic outreach. Within your parish or Church, this is beyond any kind of help with Liturgies (reader, usher, extraordinary minister, etc.).  Note: This also is an important factor in deciding whether to continue the application process.
• You must be stable in your employment/income.
• You should have established residency in the Diocese.
• You must have the recommendation of your pastor.

The following considerations depend on your marital status:

If you are married:

• You must be in a stable Catholic marriage of five years or longer.  Questions regarding divorce and annulment situations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• You must have the active and willing support of your wife.
• Your wife must be willing to take an active part in those parts of the program required of wives.
• If your wife is Catholic, she too must be active in and in good standing with the Church and your parish. At a minimum, this means:
  • She is faithful in attending Mass and regular in Confession.
  • Prayer is integral to her life.
  • She has a relationship with Jesus.
  • She accepts and supports the Church in her teachings.
• If your wife is not Catholic, she must live the witness of a good Christian life.
• If you have older children at home, they must be supportive of you in pursuing the diaconate.
• If you have younger children, it is best if they are at least in the latter years of grammar school. Young children at home do not necessarily preclude admission to the program, but they are a very serious consideration since your first vocation is with your family.
• Your spouse must understand and accept that, should she precede you in death, you ordinarily are not free to re-marry.

If you are single or widowed, you must be willing to embrace celibacy freely as a permanent life.