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

X NDPD 184

Vocation, Discernment, and Selection

to someone in whom a sudden conversion experience seems to pre cipitate a diaconal vocation.) c. He is in a stable marriage, if married, or in a mature celibate state of life, if single. d. If married, he has the consent of his wife. e. He is properly motivated and gives evidence of an overall personal balance and moral character. f. He is a frequent participant in adult faith enrichment opportuni ties (e.g., retreats, days of reflection, spiritual direction, study of Scripture and church teachings). g. He is free of canonical impediments or irregularities. 8 The Role of the Diocese 183 The director of formation, who coordinates the selection process, arranges an interview with the diocese’s committee on admission. 9 The purpose of the interview is to assess the applicant’s level of awareness of a diaconal vocation, as well as to obtain information and background on his family life, employment stability, and general aptitude for diaconal ministry. The interview must include a separate interview with his wife, if he is married, and may include an interview with the entire family. 184 As part of the application process, those charged with admission must—with appropriate care for confidentiality and manifestation of conscience—explore the presence of impediments to ordination. 10 8 See CIC, cc. 1040-1042. Canon 1041 enumerates irregularities as follows: “(1) a person who labors under some form of amentia or other psychic illness due to which, after experts have been consulted, he is judged unqualified to fulfill the ministry properly; (2) a person who has committed the delict of apostasy, heresy, or schism; (3) a person who has attempted marriage, even only civilly, while either impeded personally from entering marriage by a matrimonial bond, sacred orders, or a public perpetual vow of chastity, or with a woman bound by a valid marriage or restricted by the same type of vow; ( 4 ) a person who has committed voluntary homicide or procured a completed abortion and all those who positively cooperated in either; ( 5 ) a person who has mutilated himself or another gravely and maliciously or who has attempted suicide; ( 6 ) a per-son who has placed an act of orders reserved to those in the order of episcopate or presbyterate while either lacking that order or prohibited from its exercise by some declared or imposed canonical penalty”; and irreg-ularities arising from public or occult delicts. Canon 1042 enumerates impediments as follows: “(2) a person who exercises an office or administration forbidden to clerics according to the norm of cann. 285 and 286 . . . ; (3) a neophyte unless he has been proven sufficiently in the judgment of the ordinary.” 9 BNFPD, no. 35. See no. 35 note 39. 10 BNFPD, no. 70; see CIC, c. 1029.

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