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If you are in the process of discerning God’s call to serve the Church as a minister of charity, word, and sacrament as an ordained deacon in the Archdiocese of Boston, you and your wife are invited to take part in an Inquirer program. The program consists of two fall evening informational sessions (sites and dates to be posted on this page when they are confirmed), and a fall half-day discernment retreat at the Pastoral Center in Braintree. Those who are interested are strongly encouraged to attend all three events.
Please contact the Permanent Diaconate Office to sign up or for more information deacondan_burns@rcab.org preferred, or 617-746-5649.
Applications for the coming first year Diaconal session are due to be completed in full in mid-January.
Note: Because of a move of class location, the deadline for application to the 2012 Fall Diaconal program has been moved to April 15, 2012.
The next group to be admitted into formation for the spring semester will begin classes at the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization in Brighton beginning in September. A department of St. John's Seminary, the Institute ( TINE) is located at 149 Washington Street, Brighton, MA. TINE embraces Saint John’s Seminary’s programs for the laity, deacons, and religious. It includes two degree programs which are available but are not required of the matriculating Diaconal candidate: the Master of Arts in Ministry degree and the Master of Theological Studies for the New Evangelization. TINE also offers non-degree Certificate programs: the Foundational Certificates and the Advanced (New Evangelization) Certificate.
Those inquirers who successfully complete the admissions process and are admitted to the first year of the program are called Aspirants. After a year of prayer and discernment, those who are continuing on the discernment path to 2nd through 4th years of study are then called Candidates.
The Inquirer Program.
All couples who wish to learn about the program are invited to participate in a series of sessions called the Inquirer Program. These are informal meetings coordinated by the head of the Program, Deacon Dan Burns. They include guest speakers and provide an excellent opportunity for questions to be asked, and to meet deacons, their wives, and the priests they work with. More information about the application process will be provided at the Inquirer sessions.
(See here for a description of the formation program)
Inquirer Program - Fall 2012
The Inquirer Program includes a series of gatherings to provide information and support to those who are considering applying to the Permanent Diaconate Program in the Archdiocese of Boston. There will be two fall evening meetings and one morning of retreat. The evening meeting will include the presentation of important information about the diaconate as well as group discussions with deacons and their wives to answer any questions that you might have about the formation program or diaconal ministry. For those who are married, it is very important to give serious consideration to how the diaconate would impact your spouse and your family. If God is truly calling you to this vocation, then it will add great joy and richness to your marriage and family life even as it does add new demands to your time. It might also be that you are called to this ministry, but your family responsibilities will make it too difficult at the present time. In any case, open and loving conversations are needed with the family to see if the diaconate is a ‘good fit’ to your lives. With this in mind, you and your wife are invited to attend the Inquirer Program meetings.
The dates, location, and topics for these gatherings are given below:
- Evening Meetings:
- Date/Time: TBA
Topic: Who is the Deacon and am I called?
Date/Time: TBA
Topic: How does the diaconate fits into marriage and family life?
Held at : Merrimack College Austin Hall, 2nd Floor chapel North Andover, MA
- Retreat Day:
- Date: TBA
Archdiocese Pastoral Center, 66 Brooks Dr. Braintree MA 02184
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Lunch will be provided
Topic: Listening for God’s Desire in our Lives
These events are for those interested in applying to the diaconate and their wives. Anyone who is considering applying to the diaconate is strongly encouraged to attend all events.
IMPORTANT: Please respond by email (preferred) or phone if you and your wife will attend these events.
Email: deacondan_burns@rcab.org
phone: 617-746-5649