National Directory

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ASPIRANT STAGE OF DIACONAL FORMATION

g. An introduction and experience of the spiritual writings of our Catholic Tradition

202. The aspirant’s spiritual director is critical to the formation process. Therefore, this priest, who is to be approved by the diocesan bishop, must be well trained and knowledgeable about the diaconate.The spir itual director accompanies, supports, and challenges the aspirant in his ongoing conversion. The spiritual director assists the aspirant in his relationship with God and promotes his understanding that it is Christ who calls, the Church who affirms his diaconal vocation, and the diocesan bishop who responds to that affirmation by the imposi tion of hands. 203. As collaborators in discerning the readiness of the aspirant to move into candidate formation, the parish and its pastor also should accom pany the aspirant and his family by means of their prayers, support, and presence. In the aspirant stage of formation, the parish is the pri mary place to observe the aspirant’s relational skills and his practice in pastoral service. The pastor, therefore, is to provide an assessment of the aspirant and his family. This assessment will further enable the formation staff to support and challenge the aspirant’s discernment of his readiness to move into candidate formation. 204. The objectives and content for intellectual formation at the aspirant level should communicate a deeper knowledge of the faith and the Word of God. During aspirancy a man should come to know Scripture as the living Word of God, learn to read it as prayer, listen to the move ments of the Spirit within its content, and embrace it as the heart of a deacon’s intellectual interest. Saturating aspirants in the living Word of God helps prepare them for the following years of more intensive study of its content as the source of doctrine and Catholic living. It would Intellectual Dimension