Program Information

Formation Program for New Permanent Deacons

The redevelopment of a formation program for the Holy Order of Deacons is a response by our bishop to a need for additional permanent deacons in the Diocese of Manchester. It is also a specific response to the request from men living throughout the diocese who have expressed an interest in the vocation of deacon.

The Deacon Formation Office is located at the Diocesan Administration Building, 153 Ash Street, P.O. Box 310, Manchester, NH 03105-0310. The co-directors are Patricia Gabree and Deacon Greg McGinn. The bishop has also appointed a Deacon Formation Policy Board.

Concerning Applicants

Applications for entrance into the formation program will be accepted again beginning in fall 2012. Here is what the Formation Board will be looking for in the men who apply:

To become a permanent deacon, the applicant must approach formation convinced of his call by God to serve the Church as an ordained deacon. His response to a call to the diaconate is the primary consideration for eligibility. The Deacon Formation Policy Board will assist each applicant in the initial discernment of that vocation.
The church is deeply concerned about supporting marriage and family life. Therefore, due to the serious commitment of time that formation and ministry will involve, applicants with young children may be asked to re-examine their decision to pursue formation for the permanent diaconate at this time
Church law requires that the applicant be no younger than thirty-five (35) years of age at the time of ordination and therefore, no younger than thirty-one (31) years of age at the time he is accepted as a candidate for formation.
While there is no maximum age established for a candidate, the applicant’s health and suitability must be such that there is a good probability he will be able to serve in assigned ministry as permanent deacon for a period of fifteen (15) years. Therefore a candidate should be approximately sixty (60) years of age upon ordination.

Program Structure and Content

The development of the formation program has been guided by the norms contained in The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States (USCCB); Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons (Congregation for Catholic Education); and the Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons (Congregation for the Clergy). The principal goal is to promote formation of the whole person by providing a program that integrates four pillars:

Human
Spiritual
Intellectual
Pastoral

There are two parts to a four-year formation program:

Aspirancy. The Aspirancy year consists of formal preparation in which the discernment of the aspirant’s potential vocation is aided by his family, his pastor, a spiritual director, and the formation team. During that year, participants will begin formation by meeting for weekend seminars that will explore various topics of personal and spiritual development, spiritual direction, and other practices designed to enhance the discernment process. All aspirants will complete year one of the academic program for lay ministry formation, Called to Servant Leadership.
Candidacy. Candidacy begins at the end of the Aspirancy year. A decision will be made whether or not the aspirant will be recommended to continue into three additional years of academic, spiritual, and pastoral formation.

Academic Courses in Candidacy Include

Old Testament Scriptures
New Testament Scriptures
Trinity
Christology
Ecclesiology
Sacramental Theology
Moral Theology I & II
Pastoral Care and Counseling
Introduction to Liturgy
Church History
The American Church
Canon Law for Ministry

Course Schedules

Year of Aspirancy Schedules

Saint Anselm College, Manchester (pdf)
Plymouth State University, Plymouth (pdf)

Year II Candidacy Schedules

Saint Anselm College, Manchester (pdf)
Plymouth State University, Plymouth (pdf)

It is important to understand that the Permanent Deacon Formation of the Diocese of Manchester is NOT a degree program. A Certificate of Academic Completion will be awarded upon successful completion of the academic requirements. Most of these courses will be offered in a classroom setting. Some, during the mid-winter months, will be offered through the STEP program from the University of Notre Dame.

Other Elements of Formation Include:

Annual Retreat
Practicum experiences in liturgy
Pastoral Year in ministry in the 4th year
Participation in theological reflection groups
Regular spiritual direction

Formation Weekends Develop the Whole Person

“Formation Weekends” are a critical part of the training for new deacons, because the extended time spent in community, integrates spiritual, pastoral, and human elements into what might otherwise be just an academic preparation. The weekend gatherings bridge what is learned in the classroom to ways that develop the whole person. “Training” for ministry becomes “formation” for ministry, not just information, but also conformation. Candidates will engage in a number of weekend workshops each year dealing with

Spirituality
Leadership and Prayer
Ministry of Permanent Deacon
Homiletics
Pastoral Counseling
Religious Education