I spent the day today with the 10 men who are soon to be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. With ordination now about 70 days away it was time to get down to some practical workshops. So on this Saturday the 10 men learned all the ropes for conducting wake services, funerals and graveside services. The afternoon brought another round of homilies for presentation. With time growing short, the ten will have only a few more precious opportunities to practice the art of preaching. And the day concluded with another workshop on the rite of baptism.
These 10 men, originally selected prior to Hurricane Katrina, were delayed a full year before starting formal formation activities and classes. With God's will their very long journey to ordination is almost over and then the lifetime comittment to service as a Permanent Deacon begins.
It is important for the people of God in a diocese to know that men selected for the Permanent Diaconate are well prepared. The men take courses in Scripture, Sacraments, Social Justice, Moral Theology, Ecclesiology, Maryology, Spirituality, Clinical Pastoral Training, Canon Law, Homiletics and more. And each man is expected to adhere to the guiding principle that all formation is self formation.
More than just attending classes and completing all assigned tasks the men of a particular class are expected to form "community". While this has a human and social aspect, community is indeed spiritual and implies growth; both personal and as a group. The men of a particular class form support groups, study groups and have numerous times to pray together as well as celebrate social activities.
Between now and ordination day there is much to be done and adequate time for prayer and reflection is necessary as well.
And while all this is unfolding our class of 2012, with 20 men, remains active in formation and a new group, which will probably form a class for 2015 is moving into the application phas of their discernment.
As I so often do I ask once again for prayers for all these men, their wives and families, and for continued vocations to the Permanent Diaconate.
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