Process to becoming a Permanent Deacon

The man who believes he is called to be a Permanent Deacon and meets the criteria must:

1. Submit a written application to the Board of Deacons. In his application he is to state his full names, the name and contact details of his Parish Priest, the name and contact details of the chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council and the name and contact details of his Wife.
2. He must obtain and submit with his application, the written recommendation of his; Parish Priest, The Parish Pastoral Council and his Wife.
3. In addition to the written application and written recommendations, the Board of Deacons also requires a certified copy of ID, proof of residence, certified copies of Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage certificates, certified copies of education certificates.
4. Those who meet the criteria will be called, together with their spouse, for an interview by the Board of Deacons. The successful applicant, together with his wife, will undergo a propaedeutic period of formation lasting between 6 – 12 months.
5. Commencing with the propaedeutic phase, spiritual direction will be mandatory.
6. The Spiritual Director will be required to submit a quarterly report to the Board of Deacons on the commitment of the applicant to the process.
7. On successful completion of the propaedeutic phase the applicant will be interviewed by the Board of Deacons. If approved, the applicant will be designated the term ‘aspirant’. He will take up his academic formation in addition to his spiritual direction.
8. On the successful completion of the academic formation, the aspirant will submit a written application to the Board of Deacons. However, in this application he must provide strong motivation as to why he aspires to be a Permanent Deacon. The aspirant will also submit new written recommendations from; his Wife, Parish Priest and Parish Pastoral Council.
9. The aspirant and his wife will be called to an interview with the Board of Deacons and if successful will be referred for psychometric evaluation.
10. The aspirant will be notified of the outcome of the psychometric evaluation and if approved by the Board of Deacons will be invited to the final stage of formation.
11. During this final stage of formation, the Bishop, at his discretion, will confer the stable ministry of Lector, to be held for 6 months, followed by conferment of the stable ministry Acolyte, to be held for a further 6 months.
12. During the final stage of formation the aspirant must arrange for a minimum 8-day directed retreat under the supervision of a religious order retreat master and must be on his own (also known as silent retreats to aid discernment & purify intentions).
13. After this final stage of formation is complete, the Bishop will either; accept, defer or reject the further progress of the aspirant at his discretion which is final.
14. Should the aspirant be accepted, he and his wife will be interviewed by the Bishop.
15. Should the interview be successful, the Bishop, at his discretion, will admit the aspirant to become a candidate for Holy Orders.
16. Thereafter the Bishop, at his discretion, will confer the Sacrament of Holy Orders to the Sacred Order of Permanent Deacon.
17. Spiritual direction remains mandatory after ordination.