| Application Request |
A man interested in becoming a candidate for the Permanent Diaconate
should call or write the Diaconate Office and request an application.
After filling out the rather extensive application and writing an
autobiography, the applicant procures the necessary church documents
for baptism, confirmation, and marriage, if the applicant is married.
The completed application with a picture of the applicant is submitted
to his pastor or the parish priest. If the pastor or parish priest
approves the application, he sends his recommendation to the regional
bishop who reviews the application and then forwards it to the Office
of the Permanent Diaconate. |
| Interviews |
The Diaconate Office will assign a Regional Examiners (a deacon
couple) to interview the applicant and, if married, his wife.
The Regional Examiners will submit a report to the Diaconate Office.
The information received will be reviewed by the Diaconate Staff
and a decision rendered whether to continue or not with the admissions
process. If the Diaconate staff decides not to continue, the
applicant as well as the priest who recommended the applicant
will be informed by a staff member. If the Diaconate Staff is
favorable to the application, the next phase of the admissions
will be undertaken.
The applicant (and, if married, his wife) will be interviewed
by staff members of the Diaconate Office. If signs of a vocation
to service seem evident, a series of tests (vocabulary, reading,
religion literacy, a structured interview) will also be administered
to the applicant. All of these will be reviewed by the Diaconate
Staff and a decision made to advance or to terminate the application.
If the Diaconate staff is in favor of continuing, the applicant
will move to the next phase of the admissions process.
The applicant (and, if married, his wife) is interviewed by an
Admissions Board. The Admissions Board makes a preliminary decision
concerning the applicant’s admission as a candidate. If the Admissions
Board is favorable to the applicant, he undertakes a psychological
evaluation. Results of the evaluation are kept in strict confidence
and are only made available to the Diaconate Staff, and if the
applicant is received as a candidate, to his spiritual director.
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