Minister to Deacons
The Minister to Deacons Office has responsibility for post-ordination continuing formation for the ordained permanent deacons and their spouses in human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral areas and currently accomplishes this through:
- Serving as the bishop’s representative in establishing and implementing a basic minimum of continuing education hours to be fulfilled on an annual basis by all diocesan deacons in active service;
- Assisting the bishop in his supervision of the spiritual and personal welfare of deacons and their families;
- As delegated by the bishop, ministering to deacons and their families by conducting regularly scheduled visits with the deacons and their families, reviewing and evaluating diaconal assignments, and making appropriate recommendations to the bishop;
- Planning and implementing an annual program for diaconate continuing formation; and
- Assisting the bishop and the designated pastors in their pastoral care for deacons and their families- especially deacons living and ministering outside the diocese, deacons who may be ill, or deacons on a ministerial leave of absence.
The Minister to Deacons Office, under the direction of the bishop, is guided in it’s ministry through diocesan norms and with the intent and content of the “Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons of the Congregation for the Clergy” and the “National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States.”
Services and Programs
- Five-Year Plan Workshops for Deacons
- Continuing Education Days for Deacons
- Retreats for Deacons
- Deacon Directory
- Deacon Assignments