Permanent deacons serve the community through assignment by the Bishop. The permanent deacon assists the Bishop and the Priests of the Diocese in the threefold ministry of Word, Liturgy and Charity. All of the aspects of the life and ministry of the Deacon flow from the servant role of Jesus who gave himself totally to the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, the alienated.

The formation and life of permanent deacons is carried out under the guidance of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. These guidelines are contained in the Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons and the Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons (Vatican, 1998), the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States (NCCB, 2005) and the Policies and Procedures for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons (Diocese of Rochester, 2005)

Recruitment: Admissions to the formation program by the Bishop of Rochester are done annually. All inquirers must attend one Day of Reflection to be oriented to the formation and life of the Deacon and the application process. Days of Reflection are offered in August. Formal application is submitted by November 1st. The Bishop welcomes men and their wives into the program in late February. Those accepted into the formation program begin the Aspirancy year in March. Some criteria for admission to the formation program are minimum age at time of acceptance in the program of 31 years and maximum age at time of acceptance in the program of 58. An applicant must be a practicing Roman Catholic for 3 years and in a canonical marriage or widowed for 3 years. Unmarried men must be established in their way of life. Marriage after ordination is not permitted in the Roman Catholic Church. Inquirers must have the intention to the serve the Diocese of Rochester after ordination for 10 years. Inquirers must have good general health and financial stability, the support of the pastor, be able to complete advanced theological studies and have competence in the English language. Married men must have the full support of their wives to enter the formation program and to be ordained. A minimum level of participation of the wives is required throughout the period of the formation program in order to assist the wife in making an informed consent to her husband’s ordination and ministry and to help the wife to accept the challenges and changes that will take place, should her husband be ordained.

Formation Program: The formation program is four years in duration and includes development and education in the four integrated areas of personal, spiritual, theological and pastoral life. Theological education is imparted through either the Master’s Degree in Pastoral Theology or the Graduate Certificate in Theology and through certificate courses. Pastoral skills are developed through graduate courses, certificate courses and field education experiences. Spiritual formation is assisted through certificate courses which provide an orientation to the conscious practice of the spiritual life and through spiritual direction, retreats and other liturgical and formal prayer celebrations. Personal development takes place in and through all of the aspects of the formation program and by participation in the life of the formation community as a whole. Personal development entails the clarification of the particular challenges of ministry in the ecclesial community serving a diversity of people. An inclination to service to those in need, receptivity, tolerance and openness of mind and heart, a willingness to assume the obligation of obedience to the Bishop, habits of speaking and acting which are welcoming and helpful, ability to assume long term obligations and to conduct ministry in the context of various ecclesial communities are some of the personal qualities which are necessary in ordained ministry. The goal of all formation is ongoing discernment on the part of the individual and of formation personnel as to the best match between the gifts of inquirers and the particular needs and demands of the community. This discernment is carried out through ongoing reflection and discussion on the part of the men in formation and their families on the one hand and by regular evaluations on the part of the formation staff on the other hand. Through dialogue under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the community of faith the vocation to the permanent commitment to ordained ministry in the Roman Catholic Church is clarified and tested.

The Phases of Formation and Ministry: The first year of formation is called the aspirancy. The last three years of formation are called candidacy. At the end of the period of candidacy men are ordained to the Permanent Diaconate by the Bishop. The first three years of the post ordination life of the Deacon are supervised by a mentor and represent a time of internship and adjustment to the graces and obligations of ordained ministry. At ordination one is committed to lifelong human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral development. This is accomplished by persevering in the way of life begun in the formation years and by continuing education.

For More Information: Contact St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, 120 French Road, Rochester, New York, 14618, 585-271-3657. Mr. Tom McDade Clay is the Director of Admissions. He can refer you to the Director of Formation or the Director of Deacon Personnel in the Diocese for further discussion as needed.