An Orientation Deacon William T Ditewig PhD Director of Faith Formation Diaconate and Pastoral Planning Diocese of Monterey Tonight 630 Opening Prayer followed by Presentation The Vocation of the Deacon ID: 815336
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Slide1
The Vocation of the Deacon:An Orientation
Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D.Director of Faith Formation, Diaconate and Pastoral PlanningDiocese of Monterey
Slide2Tonight
6:30 Opening Prayer, followed by Presentation: “The Vocation of the Deacon”7:00 – 7:15 Q & A on Presentation7:15 – 7:45 Conversation at each site
7:45 Final Q & A
Slide3Who is a Deacon?An ordained member of the clergy, along with bishops and priestsA VOCATION from God, discerned through the Church
Ordained to act in the person of Christ the Servant and in the name of the ChurchNo longer a lay person in the eyes of Catholic theology and law
Slide4Who is a Deacon?Ordained BY the Bishop for service TO the Bishop throughout the DioceseNot simply for a particular parish
Wherever the Bishop determines the needDon’t expect to go back to “home” parish
Slide5What Does a Deacon Do?
Like the Bishop (and Priest), a three-fold ministry:WordSacramentCharity24/7/365: Not just when in church!JPII: Purpose of diaconate: to place the Church’s ministers in new places
Slide6US 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.”
Slide7From 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.
Slide8Responding to the Vocation:How? Prayer!
Discussions with spouse, children, pastor, deacons, friendsPrayer!Discussions with diocesan officePrayer!Apply for consideration for diaconal formation
Slide9Formation
Roughly FIVE yearsProcess detailed by Holy See, US Bishops, and Bishop GarciaBeginning in Fall, 2014Completed applications by 15 AprilInterviewsSelections in June
Costs?
Slide10Three “Paths” of One ProgramThree Paths:aspirantcandidate
post-ordinationEach Path consists of the four dimensions essential to complete formation
Slide11DimensionsDirectory echoes Pastores Dabo Vobis and the Vatican Basic Norms
Human DimensionSpiritual DimensionIntellectual DimensionPastoral Dimension
Slide12Human DimensionAims 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 othersPope says this one most basic of all
Slide13Spiritual 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.”
Slide14Intellectual 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
Slide15Pastoral DimensionIntegrated formation relates personal, spiritual & intellectual dimensions to pastoral
practice
Slide16Five yearsTwo Saturdays per month, September through May9:00 – 3:00“Academic” Day (courses from SCU)
“Formation” DayAnnual Formation Retreat (weekend)Summer Pastoral AssignmentsFormation Team, Scrutinies Board, Deacon Advisory Board, Staff
Bishop
Liturgical Steps:
Candidacy
Lector
Acolyte
Ordination
Slide17Final Observation: The Diaconate is NOT a Program!