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Glory to Jesus Christ!

Are there any good resources out there to help learn about -- and discern -- a vocation to the Diaconate?

Any materials on the Diaconate from a Ruthenian/Carpatho-Rusyn perspective and any material in general would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

#1 MATERIAL IS CALLED WIFE!

Pray, read the Bible, listen to those around you. Talk with your priest. Deacon Stan read a lot of the works of the Early Church Fathers and such. I don't recall my husband ever reading books specifically on the diaconate before hand. He spent a lot of time serving the Church. It all just came to be after a long number of years with a burning desire to serve the church as a deacon. The doors opened and here we are. Life is never dull I can tell you that!

Thanks Pani Rose.

I've been reading the Bible, the Church Fathers and praying. I'll continue on the path the LORD desires.

Please pray for me. I know it is a long journey.

John,

See:

The Deacon In Today\'s World - Archbishop Joseph (Tawil)[Melkite GCC] [rongolini.com]

The Diaconate In the Eastern Catholic Churches - Protodeacon David Kennedy [UGCC] [saintelias.com]

You might also contact:

Father Paul Frechette
Director of Diaconate Training
Eparchy of Newton of the Melkites
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
256 Hamilton Street
Worcester, MA 01604

I believe that some of the Ruthenian Church's deacons are still being trained through our program.

Many years,

Neil

John,

you inquired about the diaconate from the "Ruthenian/Carpatho-Rusyn" perspective. From your profile you identify yourself as a Byzantine Catholic. Father Deacon Timothy Tkach serves Annunciation parish, Homer Glen, he could be a valuable resource in your discernment. You should speak to your parish priest and spiritual director as well.

Actually Neil,

We've matured and developed our own diaconal formation program. Deacon candidates from the Eparchies of Parma and Van Nuys follow the diaconal formation program developed by the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. The program is in its sixth year and is located at Ss Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary. The Eparchy of Passaic maintains its own diaconal formation program. The respective vocation offices of each eparchy are the proper contact for Byzantine Catholics.

Deacon John,

There's still a straggler left then , because I know that at least one just completed his third or fourth year. I believe he's from the Ruthenian mission in New Orleans.

Many years,

Neil

Neil,

odd that the archeparchy of Pittsburgh (Louisiana is part of the archeparchy) would send someone to another formation program. Or the fellow could be a Melkite serving in the mission. Fr Deacon Stan (Pani Rose's husband) is a member of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, yet serves St George's Mekite parish, Alabama. He was a member of our first diaconal formation class at Ss Cyril and Methodius.

Deacon John,

Doubt that he's a Melkite serving the Ruthenian Mission, as we now also have a Mission there. I heard mention of him from a young Ruthenian woman whom I met a few months ago and posted about here (she was excited to discover our Cathedral parish and find that she could worship in a Byzantine environment in Boston). She was from New Orleans and mentioned that she knew we were somewhere in Boston because her best friend's father was participating in our diaconal program to serve the Ruthenian mission back home.

How old is Pittsburgh's program? Is it possible that he was so far along (I think she said he was completing his 4th year) that they didn't want to move him?

I mentioned it to one of our deacon candidates at the time and he knew the man. I'll see what I can find out next week (have to go Latin this week, engine seized up, no wheels for the trip to Boston ).

Many years,

Neil

Neil,

Thanks for the great resources!

I will read Archbishop Joseph's piece this weekend.

Regards,

John

Fr. Deacon John,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Fr. Deacon Tim's "diakonia" in our parish has fanned the flames of my interest in the diaconate. When I was in grade school, a friend's father was a deacon and I've felt a tug to serve the Church ever since.

I'm also working with our pastor Fr. Tom to discern this possible vocation.

Regards,

John

I'll second Pani Rose there. Your wife and your pastor, pretty much in that order.

I've read through many materials in my own discernment, but in the end, diakonia is really about the needs of the Church and the Gifts the Spirit grants you. The physical role the deacon plays in the Divine Liturgy and in parish life, you are probably very familar with. The Spirituality of each deacon is unique. It's that is is the most difficult to discern. Is the Spirituality you would develop as a deacon the one the Spirit wishes to grant you.

God Bless and Guide you in your discovery.


(FYI, It was about a 2 1/2 year discernment for me, I was accepted into Formation to the Deaconate in the ArchDiocese of Detroit this summer)

Glory to Jesus Christ.

As Scotus has wisely pointed out, this has to be a family vocation, not just yours. When the Bishop first interviewed me for the diaconate, he then interviewed my wife separately, with me not even in the room. One man left the program because his wife absolutely did not want to be "Mrs. Deacon" after a couple of years into the program.

Even before I was ordained to minor orders, she had to sign a letter of consent, and she had to write another one for the diaconate. Also be prepared for a psychological evaluation given past issues with clerical behavior.

Neil,

Now in its sixth year, the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh established the Diaconate Formation Program in 1999. Prior to 1999 there were no men in formation to serve the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh as deacons. Fr Deacon Lance, Fr Deacon Stan (Pani Rose's husband), and I (along with 18 other men) comprised that inaugural class in the summer of 1999. We represented the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and the Eparchies of Parma and Van Nuys. One of our confreres was in formation for the Eparchy of Canton for the Romanians.

During our course of four years formation which "ended" (formation never truly "ends") in spring 2003, I can recall 2 other men who were added to the formation program. Metropolitan Judson of blessed memory had made it clear that this is the Diaconate Formation Program for the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. The Bishops of Parma and Van Nuys have decided to send their candidates to the Archeparchial program as well. So I am quite surprised that some one from Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is not in the Archeparchial Diaconate Formation Program, but I don't make those decisions.

John,

to underscore what others have already said, if you are married, your wife is resource #1 to guide you in your discernment process.