Microsoft Word 2 2015 Aspirant Handbook doc

 

 

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Your ability to lead, motivate, facilitate, and animate others into appropriate action or 

service. 

(See number 166 in the 

DMLPD

) 

Spiritual and Evangelical Qualities 

 

During formation, Formators pay special attention to the development of spiritual and 

evangelical qualities as part of ecclesial discernment, which, like the traits and dispositions 

described above, you have already demonstrated.  You should carefully monitor these qualities 

as part of your personal discernment.  They include: 

-  

A sound faith. 

-  

Your commitment to the Church’s apostolate, the spreading of the Good News of Jesus 

Christ with the original Apostles’ ministry as a model. 

-  

Personal integrity or moral soundness, maturity and holiness. 

-  

Regular participation in the Church’s sacramental life. 

-  

Your on-going commitment to the Church’s life and service or diakonia. 

-  

Your participation in your faith enrichment during formation. 

-  

The stability and positive nature of your marriage if married, or a mature celibate state of 

life if single. 

-  

Your continued membership in a parish worship community. 

-  

Your capacity for obedience and fraternal communion (becoming part of the brotherhood 

of deacons). 

- 

Your deep spirituality and prayer life. 

(See number 167 in the 

DMLPD

) 

 

 

The Director of Diaconate Formation (with the advice and recommendations of your 

Formators) and the Diaconate Board are responsible to prepare a declaration of readiness for the 

Bishop that profiles your personality and provides a judgment of the suitability for you to 

continue on to the Candidate Path of Diaconate Formation (Candidacy) and eventually 

ordination.   

Fourth Assignment 

 

Read Chapters Four and Five of the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and 

Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States (

DMLPD

).  The DMLPD is the standard used by 

all dioceses in the United States to define all aspects of diaconal life, including your formation 

and is the basis for this handbook.  As you read, keep track of any questions that you may have 

and bring them to the attention of your Formators. 

 

 

 The 

DMLPD

 is available on-line in printable PDF format from the official web site of the 

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (

http://www.usccb.org/

).  There is also a wealth of 

other information about the diaconate on the 

USCCB diaconate page

. 

 

Ecclesial Discernment 

 

As part of the application process, you were interviewed by two members of the 

Diaconate Board, who made their recommendations to the rest of the Diaconate Board and the 

Bishop concerning your admission to Aspirancy.  Between June and the following January when 

the Diaconate Board meeting is held, you (and your wife, if married) will have a conversation 

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with the remaining Diaconate Board. This is an important part of the ecclesial discernment 

process.  But more importantly, you will have an opportunity to meet all the members of the 

Diaconate Board and they will meet you. 

 

YOUR NOTES: 

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3. DIMENSIONS OF FORMATION IN THE ASPIRANT PATH 

Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord 

Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in 

which we stand, and we boast in the hope and glory of God.  Not only that, but we 

also boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and 

endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not 

disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through 

the holy Spirit that has been given to us. 

(Romans 5:1-5) 

 

 

During your Aspirancy, the Formators have specific objectives to meet to ensure your 

growth in four specific areas of formation or dimensions; human,  spiritual,  intellectual, and 

pastoral.  This growth must continue and intensify should you be admitted to candidacy for 

ordination.  Growth must also continue after ordination so that your formation becomes one 

continuous and never-ending journey. 

 

 

If you are to serve as deacon, you must experience formation that promotes the 

development of your entire person.  Therefore, throughout your formation, the process will strive 

to make the four dimensions interrelated, thereby making these dimensions an on-going 

objective in your life as you are being formed, and beyond, in the exercise of ministry. 

 

 

It is strongly recommended that you fully familiarize yourself with the four dimensions 

of formation, which are explained in detail in Chapter 3 of the 

DMLPD

.  The goal of 

familiarizing yourself with the four dimensions is to help you meet the Model Standards for 

Readiness for Admission into the Candidate Path for each of the four dimensions of formation 

and more importantly become the best deacon you can be.  They may be found as Appendix 1 to 

this handbook.      

HUMAN DIMENSION 

 

You come into the Aspirancy Path with a documented history of interpersonal 

relationships with other people.  Pope John Paul II, in the 1990 Extraordinary Synod of Bishops, 

stressed the importance of the human dimension of Diaconate Formation.  He wrote that the goal 

of a suitable human dimension is to help you develop your “human personality in such a way 

that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ” (Post-

Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, #43). 

 

Goals for Human Dimension Development during Aspirancy 

 

There are two human dimension goals we will help you achieve during Aspirancy: 

- 

To continue to develop your well formed interpersonal relationships in the model of 

 

Christ the Servant. 

-  

If you’re married, to help you and your wife to lovingly assess your relationship and the 

possible impact ordination would have on your relationship.   

-  

If you are single, we will help you discern your willingness and readiness to embrace the 

celibate state. 

 

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