Deacon inquiry meetings to be held throughout diocese during March

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Feb. 8, 2007

What's the permanent diaconate all about?

That is one of the many questions that personnel from the Office of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Sioux City plan to answer at four inquiry nights slated for March. The meeting dates, times and locations include: Monday, March 5 at 7 p.m. at St. Lawrence Parish in Carroll; Tuesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. at St. Michael Parish in Sioux City; Thursday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Parish in Spencer and Monday, March 26 at 7 p.m. at the Sacred Heart School Building in Fort Dodge.

"The purpose of these meetings is to give people a chance to ask questions, meet other people who might be interested and meet deacons who have been ordained so they might ask them about their service, vocation and to meet the deacon wives," noted David Lopez, director of deacon formation.

Anyone who has any questions about or interest in this ministry is encouraged to attend one of these informational meetings. The content will be similar at all of the meetings, but the organizers wanted to offer it on different dates and in several locations so that it would be accessible to many people. Lopez will be facilitating some of the meetings and Deacon Tim Murphy, director of deacon personnel, will be presenting some.

"This is a free meeting with no obligation," he explained. "If anyone has had any thought about the possibility of becoming a deacon, anyone who wants to know more about what a deacon does, anyone who has been prompted by someone else that they might a good deacon this is a great opportunity to come and find out a little more and see if there is a call."

Along with answering questions, people may secure an application form. Lopez encouraged people to send in the completed forms by July.

He pointed out that the age requirements for persons entering formation are fairly liberal. For a married person, the individual must be 30 to enter formation and not over 60 in most instances. For a single person, the individual may enter the program at 25.

Even if a man is younger but has an interest in exploring the vocation, they are encouraged to attend.

The inquiry nights will include a 15-minute presentation centered on the nature of the diaconate and the diocesan formation plan for men entering the program. The remainder of the hour will be open for questions.

"There will be at least two or three deacons and deacon wives present at each of these meetings to answer questions," noted Lopez.

He stressed the fact that the wives of men interested in the diaconate are not only invited to attend but are encouraged to do so.

"One of the concerns always in formation for the diaconate is the role of the wife," said Lopez. "The vocation in the permanent diaconate must be beneficial to the vocation of marriage and never in competition with it. The wife is intrigal to the formation of a deacon. She needs to know what is happening."

While it is not required, the wives are also encouraged to participate in formation classes or if that is not possible then they should have some formation at home. Through the formation process and the ministry of the deacon, the wife's faith usually transforms and grows.

Lopez pointed out that while there is only one diaconate, the distinction between the permanent diaconate and the transitional diaconate is that permanent deacons do not have the intention to become priests. Transitional deacons have the intention of becoming ordained to the priesthood so therefore these men are always single. Permanent deacons may be married or single.

"If someone is interested and cannot attend any of these nights, then they should contact me at my office and we could have a conversation and I can send them an application form," noted Lopez.

A new class will begin this fall. Those who enter the program have two years of theological preparation called the aspirancy period, which is followed by three years of pastoral training, called the candidacy period.

"Being admitted to candidacy is a formal rite in the church. What it means is that the person who is presenting himself for candidacy believes that he has a vocation to ordained ministry in the church and he is willing to make some commitment to develop that vocation and prepare for the ordained ministry," he said. "At the same, candidacy also means that the diocese recognizes the likelihood of the vocation toward ordained ministry and the diocese also undertakes a commitment to the person in formation to train them property and give them the support they need to become an ordained minister."

Ultimately, Lopez noted, formation involves four areas - intellectual training in theology, social formation, human formation and pastoral formation. The theological training generally consists of classes offered on alternate Saturdays at Sacred Heart Parish Center in Early.

Duties of the deacons vary depending on where they serve. Among other things deacons may preach, proclaim the Gospel, baptize and preside at funerals and weddings. They are catechists - either formally or informally. Deacons are ordinary ministers of the Eucharist rather than extraordinary ministers, enabling them to lead the exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. In addition, deacons may become involved in special ministries such as prison ministry and much more.

Some deacons do work in full-time ministry in a parish setting, however, most hold secular jobs. Most serve in their home parishes.

These inquiry nights are being held to raise awareness and hopefully increase interest in the ministry of the diaconate.

"We have 18 active deacons in the diocese and there are about 95 parishes. We need more deacons," said Lopez. "My initial goal is to have a deacon in every cluster. My eventual goal is to try to have a deacon in every parish."