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

NDPD

Aspirant Stage of Diaconal Formation

194

of the aspirant, including those regarding the wife of a married aspirant. This handbook is to be approved by the diocesan bishop. 4

193 Because of the aspirant’s secular employment and personal and family commitments, appropriate attention is to be given to the implemen tation of a family life perspective in organizing the aspirant stage. In this regard, the most common formation models that have emerged in the United States of America organize formation meetings on various evenings, weekends, holidays, or a combination of such times. Differ ent ways of organizing the aspirant formation stage are possible. 5 Since the director of formation, in collaboration with those who share in the responsibility for formation, 6 is expected to prepare for the diocesan bishop a declaration of readiness that profiles the aspirant’s personality and provides a judgment of suitability for candidate formation and ulti mately ordination, the aspirant stage of formation must be of an appro priate length. 7 In the diocesan Churches of the United States of Amer ica, the aspirant stage of formation ordinarily lasts two years. 194 Although some aspects of the aspirant stage may be linked with other lay apostolate formation programs in a diocese, the aspirant stage must be a distinctive program that provides for a thorough discernment of a diaco nal vocation. Therefore, it must include an appropriate initiation into diaconal spirituality; supervised pastoral experiences, especially among the poor and marginalized; and an adequate assessment of the aspirant’s potential to be promoted to candidate formation and ultimately to ordi nation. The aspirant stage also must enable the formation personnel to create an environment in which the wife of a married aspirant can be appropriately prepared to give her consent to his continuation and,

4 5 6 7

BNFPD, no. 16. BNFPD, no. 51.

BNFPD, no. 44 (formation team, supervisors, and pastor).

BNFPD, nos. 41, 44.

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