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2. DIACONAL MINISTRY SUMMARIZED AS: 4. DIACONAL MINISTRY: Does your wife have a visible and viable prayer life? The formation classes will be conducted primarily in English. Do you have a working knowledge of English? WORD: proclaim the gospel of Christ by lifestyle in The , along with the parish staff and parish council, Have you prayed with your wife and discussed with her the {Some allowances will be made to assist those whose words & deeds – with family, on the job, in the parish, and should consider the needs of the parish as they relate to impact diaconal ministry will have upon her and the family? English skills are limited.} in the community. Diaconal Ministry both currently and for the future of the parish. Will you and your wife be able to attend monthly In that the two predominate languages in the Amarillo LITURGY: Deacons assist at the altar by serving in various Formation Weekends (Friday evening - Sunday afternoon); Diocese are English and Spanish, you will be encouraged to liturgical/sacramental functions. Note: A deacon who Deacons function in a variety of ministries, a majority of plus time for homework, study groups (2 hours per month), learn to converse in both. If you are of another language functions only at the Altar – is not a deacon but an altar which are associated with the Parish such as follows: social justice ministry (10 hours per) and parish internship background then that will be coupled with English. server with a speaking part. (6 hours per) while maintaining a proper balance with Worship & Spiritual Life: family and job? Are you anticipating relocating outside of the Diocese of CHARITY: Deacons exercise the Corporal . Liturgy Amarillo within the next 10 years? Sunday & Weekdays Are you and your wife open to being assigned to another Service: Deacons serve and support their Bishop, Pastor, Funerals, Wake Services, Graveside parish or diocesan ministry? Are there any impediments (see below) that might Parish Body of Christ, and the Community as needs require. Quinceañera preclude me from Diaconal Ministry? They do so from the heart with no expectation of financial Stations of the Cross If you are single or if your wife should die, do you remuneration or social-status elevation. Other Devotion & Prayer Services understand your commitment to celibacy? 6. IRREGULARITIES AND OTHER IMPEDIMENTS:

Bridge: Deacons are often the bridge between the secular Sacramental Life: Do you have an agreeable disposition and a pleasant/ Can. 1040: Those bound by an impediment are to be barred and the sacred especially in areas such as marriage, social Baptisms, Marriage, Sick Visitation friendly personality? from the reception of orders. An impediment may be justice, language, cultural diversity, integration, and simple; or it may be perpetual, in which case it is called an evangelization. Pastoral Life: Are you open to people of other cultures? irregularity. Evangelization, Hispanic Ministry, Partnership: A deacon should be in partnership with the Social Justice, Prison/Jail, Charity, Have you discussed with your pastor the diaconal ministry? Can. 1041: The following persons are irregular for the Bishop and his pastor as helper, assistant, collaborator, and Sanctity of Life, Hospice, Welcoming, reception of orders: friend. Ecumenical relations Will you be able to reasonably subject yourself to the direction of the pastor and bishop? Commitment: A deacon’s personal commitment should be: Religious Education: • 1* one who suffers from any form of insanity, or God, Family, Job, & Church. He must be able to maintain a Sacramental Preparation Are you a person who is involved in parish and community from any other psychological infirmity… that you reasonable balance remembering the Sacrament of Baptism, Holy Communion, ministry? interfere with the ministry; Matrimony was received to . However he First Penance, Confirmation, • 2* one who has committed the offence of should not use Family & Job as an excuse to negate or Marriage, RCIA, What skills do you believe that you possess that can be apostasy, heresy or schism; lessen his commitment to Church and vice versa. Adult Education, Youth, utilized in the life of the parish and to the benefit of the • 3* one who has attempted marriage, even a civil Children, Safe Environment Diocese of Amarillo? marriage, either while himself prevented from Two-for-one: While the wives will not be ordained, often entering marriage whether by an existing marriage they are very involved in the ministry, be it their own or 5. ADMISSION QUESTIONS TO PONDER Do you believe that you have a calling to the vocation of bond or by a sacred or by a public and sharing with their deacon husband. In order to ensure that Deacon? perpetual vow of chastity, or with a woman who is they have an understanding of what constitutes diaconal Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? validly married or is obliged by the same vow; ministry and the commitment being considered, their full Has anyone from your parish community suggested that • 4* one who has committed willful homicide, or participation in the formation process is essential. Do you have a visible and viable prayer and spiritual life? you have such a calling? one who has actually procured an abortion, and all who have positively cooperated; Blessing: The diaconal ministry can be a wonderful – Are you committed to live out Gospel values of justice, Are you gainfully employed understanding that the • 5* one who has gravely and maliciously mutilated spiritual blessing for the Deacon, Wife and Family. charity & service? diaconal ministry does not offer any financial compensation himself or another, or who has attempted suicide; for your services? • 6* one who has carried out an act of order which 3. BISHOP and DEACONS: Have you been in full communion with the Church and is reserved to those in the order of the episcopate have been so for no less than three (3) years? Will you be able to grasp freshman level college work in or priesthood, while himself either not possessing Deacons are ordained by and thus serve the Bishop in diaconal/academic studies? that order or being barred from its exercise by those ministries and parishes where the need is most Do you fully accept Church teachings? some canonical penalty, declared or imposed. critical. While much of your ministry is at the parish level, Will you be open to new ideas, spiritual direction, and many deacons also function at other ministries outside the If married: Is your marriage and family life stable and pastoral formation? parish as designated by the Bishop. happy?

7. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION: Regular meetings between you and the pastor are Diocese of Amarillo You and your wife must pass a criminal background history required. Diaconate Office You must be at least 31 years of age and not more than 60 check. years of age at the time of acceptance into the Deacon 11. DEACON FORMATION: Formation Program. You will undergo an extensive psychological evaluation as conducted by a Diocesan approved psychologist (cost Deacon formation is a 4 ½ year program, beginning in You may be single or married. covered by the diocese). Your wife will undergo a lesser August 2012 and concluding December 2016. evaluation. You must have working knowledge of English. It will cover the dimensions as listed in the “National You and your wife must be able to dedicate the time Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of If married, you must demonstrate evidence of a stable necessary to fulfill the formation requirements. It is a major Permanent Deacons in the United States” to include: marriage and sound family life. Your wife must fully commitment! Spiritual Enhancement Dear Deacon Inquirer support your entry into the formation program and must Human Enrichment be willing herself to attend all weekend sessions. You must have full support of the Parish Pastor. Theological/Academic Understanding Most Reverend Patrick J. Zurek is pleased to offer his Pastoral Development blessing for the initiation of the Deacon Formation At least three (3) years must have elapsed since annulment You must have a valid and current Email Address. (plus) Supervised Internship Class of 2016. This class will begin August 4, 2012. of a previous marriage and/or marriage to present spouse The below is the Inquirer’s Guide to the Diaconal prior to acceptance into the formation program. If 8. SPONSORING & SUPERVISING: The first semester, August through December 2012, will be applicable, any and all child support payments must be Saturdays from 9:00am until 3:00pm (subject to Ministry offering information how to familiarize current and/or paid in full. As an inquirer you must make your interest in the diaconal modification). oneself with what constitutes the Diaconal Ministry, ministry known to your pastor. He must submit a letter the qualifications and things that one should consider If divorced and not remarried, must have obtained an endorsing and sponsoring you. No applicant is accepted The remaining semesters, beginning January 2013 will prior to committing to the Deacon Formation Process annulment prior to acceptance into formation program. In without the pastor’s recommendation and full support. require overnight stay from Friday evening until late and the impact upon yourself, wife and family. The addition you must fully understand your lifelong Sunday afternoon. Diaconate is a major commitment and lifestyle change commitment to celibacy. The pastor will be your supervisor, mentor and a friend and for your family, but it is most often a true blessing is to provide spiritual & emotional support for you and your ACTS 6: from the Lord! You must be economically stable and self-sufficient. wife.

The Hellenists complained … because their widows were 1. WHAT IS THE DIACONAL MINISTRY? At least three (3) years must have elapsed since you were 9. INTERNSHIP: being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve received into full communion with the called together the community of the disciples and said, “It A Permanent Deacon is described in the “Dogmatic Church prior to acceptance into the formation program. As an applicant you will be required to function in those is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at Constitution – Lumen Gentium” as follows: ministries most visible at the altar. table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable You must have a mature spiritual and prayer life and able men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall {29. At a lower level of the hierarchy are deacons, upon to articulate your spiritual journey. You should become a Lector, a Eucharistic Minister, and appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to whom hands are imposed "not unto the priesthood, but unto serve as an . prayer and to the ministry of the word.” …, So they a ministry of service." For strengthened by sacramental No impediments (Code of Law 1040-1042) to presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid grace, in communion with the bishop and his group of ordination and/or the possibility of prior behavior, which In addition you should be currently participating at your hands on them. priests they serve in the diaconate of the liturgy, of the could prove to be scandalous or harmful to the diocese, parish. You should also seek to participate in the full word, and of charity to the . It is the duty of parish, you or your family. {See “Irregularities and Other ministry of the parish by visiting the sick, assisting at For further information contact Deacon Blaine the deacon…, to administer baptism solemnly, to be Impediments”.} funerals, teaching religious education, working with Westlake, Diaconate Office at 806- 383-2243 custodian and dispenser of the Eucharist, to assist at and engaged couples, being a representative at community bless marriages in the name of the Church, to bring You must have a high school diploma or GED in order to events, and seeking the direction of the pastor, etc. Ext. 117 or visit the Amarillo Diocesan Website Viaticum to the dying, to read the Sacred Scripture to the complete the educational requirements of the formation at www.amarillodiocese.org faithful, to instruct and exhort the people, to preside over program and to fulfill your ministerial obligations. During your formation you will also have to serve in a the worship and prayer of the faithful, to administer Charitable and/or Social Justice Ministry of 10 hours per sacramentals, to officiate at funeral and burial services. You must be a documented resident and/or citizen of the month. Dedicated to duties of charity and of administration, let United States. deacons be mindful of the admonition of Blessed Polycarp: 10. EVALUATING: "Be merciful, diligent, walking according to the truth of the You must be in good health. It is required that you have a Lord, who became the servant of all.’} physical examination within six months of the application A formal evaluation from the pastor assessing your date, and that a report from the examining physician be progress not only for entry into the program but with each submitted to the Diaconate Office stating that you can of the four canonical steps: Applicant to CANDIDATE, to meet the rigors of formation training and diaconal ministry. LECTOR, to , and to DEACON.