2010 Catalog cover - The Athenaeum Of Ohio

Diaconate Formation Program
Beginning with the 1997-98 academic year, the
Special Studies Division of the Athenaeum assumed
responsibility for the Archdiocesan Permanent
Diaconate Formation Program.
What is a Permanent Deacon
In his Apostolic Letter, Ad Pascendum, reconstituting
the permanent diaconate Pope Paul VI said
that the diaconate was to be “a driving force for the
Church’s service or diakonia toward the local
Christian communities, and as a sign or sacrament
of the Lord Jesus himself, who came to serve and
not to be served.” The deacon’s ministry of service
is linked to the Church’s mission of proclaiming the
word, celebrating the sacred liturgy, and making
real Christ’s compassionate ministry of charity
toward all. This ministerial reality is to be made real
in the ministry and daily life of the deacon.
Diaconate is an ecclesial ministry of service,
complementary but subordinate to the orders of
bishop and priest; the deacon is to be “a living icon
of Christ the Servant within the Church.”
Human, Spiritual, Intellectual and
Pastoral Qualities Sought in Potential
Deacon Candidates
Human Qualities: A candidate should show
psychological equilibrium, good health, sense of
responsibility, honesty, stable personal relationships
in marriage, family, and community,
dynamism, spirit of sacrifice, strength of character,
perseverance, personal integrity/appropriate selfknowledge,
a capacity to learn and grow as a
person.
Spiritual Qualities: A candidate should have a
dynamic, active and committed spiritual life, and be
living a life of mature Christian spirituality, faithfulness
to the sacramental life, in particular a love for
the Eucharist, simplicity of heart, reasonable sense
of self giving and disinterest for self, humility, love
for others, a proven willingness to engage in
ministry for the poorest, the suffering, and the most
needy, a willingness to share time, talent, and
treasure for the sake of the Church’s mission and a
desire to seek a simplicity of life, a willingness to
deepen his spiritual and prayer life.
Intellectual Qualities: A deacon is required to
be a knowledgeable and reliable witness to the
faith and a spokesman for the Church; therefore,
candidates must demonstrate a reasonable
intellectual ability to understand and communicate
the faith and Church’s tradition in a way that is
“complete and serious.” Candidates must be
personally faithful and committed to the Church’s
doctrine if they are to communicate it to others.
They should show an openness to learning,
intellectual honesty and humility, deference for their
teachers, and an ability to synthesize in order to
teach and instruct others in the faith.
Pastoral Qualities: Pastoral formation is not
fundamentally an apprenticeship in techniques but
a process by which a man becomes sensitive to
what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Candidates
should already demonstrate a generosity for
service, a missionary zeal to bring the word of
God’s love and salvation to all in word and action,
a desire to serve the community, show responsibility
in initiating and completing projects, have a spirit
of servant-leadership, generosity of spirit,
creativity, respect for ecclesial communion and
faithfulness to the Tradition, filial obedience to the
bishop, ability to work in a team/works well with
people, good communication skills, ability to listen
and hear, ability to speak publicly and proclaim the
Gospel effectively, a willingness to seek professional
training and formation for the sake of the
mission and ministry.
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