The Sacred Heart Major Seminary undergraduate Pastoral Ministry II Program and Permanent Deacon Formation are two entirely separate programs.  One of the acceptance requirements for Deacon Formation is a certain level of theological and ministerial education.  In the Archdiocese of Detroit, this education is most easily obtained through the Pastoral Ministry program, but there are other schools which provide the required education as well.  Therefore, men in the Pastoral Ministry Program are not necessarily taking classes in preparation for entry into Diaconate Formation, but to prepare themselves for service to the Church whether they are called to the Permanent Diaconate or not.

 

 

 

The formation program is scheduled over a minimum of a four-year cycle (corresponding to the content of the program and the need to give adequate attention to the men in formation, their spouses, and their families.)  Applications for the program are accepted each year through December for the beginning of a cohort the following September.  (Applicants will need to have obtained the minimum theological and ministerial education requirements prior to starting Diaconate Formation.)

 

 

 

Selection includes the receipt and approval of all forms, certificates, transcripts, etc., completed and/or executed as required.  Each man (and his spouse, if married) also take(s) a series of psychological inventories and participate(s) in an interview with a mental health professional.  Character and reputation are assessed; criminal and driving record checks are made; his pastor and references are contacted.  A home visit and extended interview with the applicant (and wife) are conducted by Diaconate Vocation teams.  All information is then evaluated by the Diaconate Vocations Board and letters are sent indicating whether a person has been accepted.

 

 

A deacon is called by the Archbishop, though his parish and pastor may encourage him to present himself to the Archbishop for consideration.  Although a deacon can be assigned to his home parish by the archbishop, at the archbishop's discretion he may also be asked to serve somewhere else in the archdiocese where there is need for his ministry.  Therefore, the question in the selection process is whether or not the archdiocese, in the person of the archbishop, is calling a man to the Permanent Diaconate.

 

The archbishop entrusts the Office for Permanent Diaconate with the responsibility of discerning whether a man has the appropriate motives, abilities, attitude and personality traits which are called for by canon law, and the Guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), for permanent deacons.

 

 

 

 

Acceptance into Diaconate Formation does not constitute a decision that an individual is called to the order of deacon.  In addition, completion of the various courses and program activities of Formation does not guarantee ordination.

 

The Diaconate Formation process constitutes one more period of discernment. The aspirant may find, as he learns more about himself and the Diaconate, that ordained ministry is not his calling.  Periodic evaluation of each man by his pastor, mentors, and teachers, in addition to regular self evaluation, allow the Diaconate staff to assist each individual in his vocation journey.  These may result in either the man in formation or the Diaconate staff suggesting that the formation relationship be concluded.

 

It is important to always remain cognizant of the statement about the Sacrament of Holy Orders contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

 

 

 

The time required for a man to complete the formation process is a function of his preparation at the beginning of diaconal formation and the circumstances of his family and work lives.  However, the following generalization represents the minimum formation period.  A man is accepted into the Diaconate Formation as an aspirant; a year of study, formation, spiritual direction and discernment.  Then, there are three additional years of preparation for ordination.  The formation for Diaconate is academic, spiritual, and ministerial.  A man in Diaconate Formation meets monthly with a spiritual director. He (and his wife)also develop a mentoring relationship with an ordained deacon and his wife, meeting together regularly.

 

Candidates in Diaconate Formation are installed in due time as reader and acolyte by the archbishop. Prior to each installation the candidates carry out academic studies as well as perform ministerial projects in a parish or institutional setting correlating to the Word, Liturgy, and Charity and Justice.

 

 

 

The most important thing a man in formation can do is to keep in communication with his pastor and/or parish or institutional staff.  There is a need to obtain honest feedback on his ministry.  The aspirant/candidate needs to be challenged to grow, to become accustomed to self evaluation and to engage in evaluation in the context of a ministry team or parish/institutional staff. Because he is geographically close to his parish or institution, this is often the best place for the man in formation to try out different ministries, to continue to empower other parishioners to respond to needs for service in the community and to strengthen his team ministry skills.

 

 

 

No.  In the Archdiocese of Detroit, a deacon is not granted faculties to preach by reason of ordination.  He may apply to the archbishop for faculties if he successfully completes the required courses and has the approval of his pastor.  However, even before receiving preaching faculties, deacons may give a short reflection when they are the principal presiders at Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals or other liturgical functions with the approval of their pastor.

 

 

If eligibility criteria are met, the application may be made at any time.  If a man is reasonably certain of his call to the permanent diaconate, it is recommended that application be made when he begins Level II pastoral ministry course work, or its equivalent.