Diocese expands deacon prep

A new national directory on the permanent diaconate in the U.S. has inspired a new program in the Albany Diocese.

The "aspirancy program" is a year of study added onto the three years men interested in becoming deacons previously had to complete.

The Diocese is changing based on guidelines in the "National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States," published recently by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Focus for deacons

Starting in September 2006, "aspirants" who'd like to be considered for the diaconate will spend a year focusing on three areas:

* discernment, or examining whether they have the gifts and vocation to be deacons;

* spiritual direction, or choosing a spiritual director to help them understand where God is guiding them; and

* academics, or a "taste" of the coursework they would be required to complete at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry in Albany in order to become deacons.

More to do

Until recently, said Rev. Joseph Cotugno, director of the diaconate formation program for the Albany Diocese, men considering a vocation to the diaconate simply completed the Formation for Ministry Program (FMP), which trains laypeople to better serve their parishes. Then they applied as candidates for the diaconate.

Now, the men will be evaluated by members of the diaconate formation board throughout their "aspirancy" year, so that board members will know them well and be better able to judge whether they'll make good deacons.

Other changes to formation for the diaconate are in store: Wives of future deacons, who already participate in many activities, will be even more involved in the process of discernment and evaluation; and more emphasis will be placed on education. Father Cotugno believes that, eventually, the Albany Diocese will require all deacons to earn master's degrees in theology.

Preparation

"If you've got a shortage of priests, deacons are critical," Father Cotugno stated. "That's why the directory is requiring so many things that they be prepared for."

The directory advises that deacons be prepared for their vocations pastorally, humanly (psychologically), spiritually and intellectually.

The aspirancy program will be overseen by Deacon Edward Solomon, who serves at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany, along with his wife, Karen.

The Diocese currently has two men in formation for the diaconate, but Father Cotugno couldn't predict how many aspirants will join the formation program next year.

"I think it's great," he said of the changes. "This gives us a full year to see who the aspirants are."

(A permanent deacon, says the new directory, is "neither a layperson nor a priest; rather, the deacon is a cleric who is ordained to 'diakonia,' namely, a service to God's people in communion with the bishop and his body of priests." The Second Vatican Council in the 1960s stated that "those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.")

(11/3/05) [[In-content Ad]]