Deacon Formation
Deacons make the presence of Christ more relevant, human and understood in the world. They give witness to Christian values in the market place as ordained ministers. Deacons are called to leadership in a special way: to find ways to promote justice and charity, and to support Christian values in the world, in the name of the Church.
A most important concern is the proper formation of future deacons. In order to ensure their proper formation, the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States, developed from the Bishop’s Committee on the Diaconate, was adapted for the Diocese of Shreveport formation guidelines.
A unified diocesan formation program has three separate but integral phases: aspirant, candidate, and post-ordination. Each phase has four dimensions of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral. The four dimensions are integrated in all areas of formation.
- Human formation aims to enhance the personality, relationships, and inner growth, of the deacon to be reflective of the human teaching of Christ, i.e., Christ becomes alive in their actions. Deacons have an important role in human development and the promotion of justice.
- Spiritual formation assists the families in formation to (a) deepen and cultivate a service commitment to God’s word, the Church and the world, (b) deepen prayer life, (c) acquaint themselves with Catholic spiritual traditions, and (d) incarnate spirituality in the real life of the people in places where they live, work and serve.
- Academic formation offers substantial nourishment for the human and spiritual dimensions of life. Intellectual formation is an instrument for effective discernment and ministry. Deacons must understand and practice the essentials of Christian doctrine and life before they can communicate them to others in a clear way in their ministries of word, liturgy, and charity. The formation will take into account the Sacred Scripture, Ecclesiology and Church History, Fundamental theology, Systematic Theology, Dogmatic Theology, Christian Morality and Ethics, Spiritual Theology, Liturgy and rites a deacon celebrate, Ecumenism, and Evangelization.
- Pastoral formation will relate the human, spiritual, and intellectual dimensions to pastoral practice. The pastoral dimension of diaconate formation should strengthen and enhance the exercise of the prophetic, priestly, and servant-leadership functions already lived and exercised by these men in formation.
Local Church communities have the right to expect the ordained deacons to: (1) live a life of joyful service with integrity, (2) build community, (3) become educated in and support social justice, (4) experience spiritual and personal growth, and (5) develop leadership in the Church and in the marketplace, neighborhood and community.
The majority of men applying for the diaconate formation program are married with family. Wives are encouraged to attend the classes to learn with their husband in order to grow spiritually and intellectually together. Understanding and support are essential for the success of the men and for the strength and unity of these families. Therefore, a separate track is designed for the women to assist them during formation.
2008 Diocese of Shreveport