Diaconate first-year formation on
hold as program is reassessed
Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published August 11, 2006
Detroit – The Archdiocese of Detroit's permanent diaconate isn't accepting applications this year for the first year of formation, using the time to examine the program and compare it to national norms.
Msgr. Mike LeFevre, director of the archdiocesan Office of Clergy Life and Ministry and rector of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, explained that the office will still continue to accept applications for the fall 2007 class. He expects there to be some tweaking to the academic and formation aspects of the program to be sure the archdiocese is meeting standards and providing enough training.
Formation for the diaconate "will always be a work in progress," he said.
As far as wanting to attract more deacons, Msgr. LeFevre said that's more up to God and His call to men. "We are looking for how we can respond when the Lord calls them," he said.
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Photo by Kristin Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic
Deacon Joe Iskra of St. Raymond Parish, Detroit, meets with parishioner and Warren resident Regina Randolph. Part of Iskra’s job is to be there as a listening ear for parishioners and offer advice as he can. | Msgr. LeFevre explained that about a year ago, out of the bishops' conference came a new directory for the permanent diaconate. Approved by the Vatican in November 2004, the "National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States" establishes, for the first time, comprehensive national norms for preparing for and living the permanent diaconate. It replaces national guidelines in effect since 1984.
Msgr. LeFevre figured it would be an opportune time to study the directory and look at the requirements for the people in the deaconate program, he said, to make sure Detroit's program was meeting the standards. For example, a committee will investigate if structures in place for retreats are sufficient.
The diaconate program probably could have been studied while a new group of men began, but the complexity of the program led the planning team to suggest no new candidates be accepted this August. They were then able to make and create the Total Pastoral Plan for Deacons.
With than plan in place, the office is in a better position to present the deaconate "the way in which men would respond to the way they are called to be deacons," Msgr. LeFevre said.
 By the numbers
The Archdiocese of Detroit has:
• 129 active, participating deacons
• 107 parishes with deacons
• 5 are not assigned to a parish.
• 31 men in the archdiocese are senior deacons, and
• 27 women are widows of deacons. | He explained that the directory was the result of the bishops methodically approaching the sacraments in the Church to make the diaconate a more engaging process — especially since it is an order of the Church. Leaders have to keep looking at how we can be good shepherds, and make sure the formation is doing what it is supposed to do. The new directory sets out the requirements for deacons' human, spiritual, academic and pastoral formation.
"The Church always re-expresses itself," Msgr. LeFevre said.
The permanent diaconate was revived with the Second Vatican Council; previously, deacons were only ordained as the last step before priesthood. Deacons, who with priests and bishops form the Church's ordained ministers, now:
- assist at the liturgy,
- preach the Scriptures,
- perform weddings, baptisms and funeral rites,
- and do charitable works in the name of the Church.
Most U.S. permanent deacons are married and many have full-time jobs in other fields, devoting evenings or weekends to their ordained ministry.
Msgr. LeFevre said that because the diaconate is relatively new, the Church is still coming to understand what it expects of its deacons. He explained that in the first century, a deacon's ministry was to work with the poor, then widows and orphans; now, a deacon's ministry might not be quite so defined.
"What difference can they make in the Church?" Msgr. LeFevre said.
Msgr. LeFevre expects both the academic and the formation component to unfold over the next couple of years, he said. He expects academic changes to be minimal, as the directory was more of an affirmation to Detroit's already-rigorous program, he said.
He said the program won't be completely different in a year, because the program has been responding to the needs of the Church anyway.
The Office of Clergy Life and Ministry will hold a "new beginnings" deacon convocation Sunday, Sept. 10, for discussion of the Total Pastoral Plan for Deacons. Among the suggestions are to look at possibly outdated policies, to build up the mentoring program, develop the role description, and keep and updated list of spiritual directors.
Catholic News Service contributed to this story.
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