The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and the Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States (Ascension)

X NDPD 167

CHAPTER FOUR Vocation, Discernment, and Selection

I. PROMOTION AND RECRUITMENT 167 The First Letter of St. Paul to Timothy provides the first principle for the selection of deacons: “They should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons” (3:10). Those who have worked closely with the reestablishment of the diaconate conclude that the diaconate is a particular vocation called forth by the Holy Spirit, that a successful process of training and development can only coop erate with and build upon fundamental preexisting traits and disposi tions that point to a diaconal vocation, and that the process of training and development can be successful only in supportive life circumstances. Such life circumstances include but are not limited to a stable marriage (if the candidate is married), a stable family life, and a career that does not violate Church teaching or canon law and allows sufficient time and energy for formation. 168 The promotion and recruitment of qualified men for the diaconate should be a collaborative ministry between the staffs of the diocesan vocations office and the diaconate office, as well as the diocesan bishop and pastors. The diaconate office should communicate with the vocations office and other diocesan entities to promote the awareness of diaconal vocations and ways to pursue a vocation to the diaconate. If a man has been dis missed from the seminary or another diaconal formation program, addi tional care should be taken, including a thorough investigation into the reason for dismissal, prior to admitting him into the diaconal formation program. If the diocesan Church wishes to nominate appropriate men, it may be helpful for the diocesan diaconate office to prepare guidelines, approved by the diocesan bishop, that provide specific information about recruitment, as well as the selection and formation processes. If there is a

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