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

NDPD

Candidate Stage of Diaconal Formation

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240 Paralleling the process indicated for the external forum, spiritual direc tion is similarly crucial to the candidate’s discernment. The individual’s spiritual director should receive the information regarding this period of probation; and through internal forum, he should assist the individual through regularly scheduled meetings.

VI. SCRUTINIES FOR INSTITUTION INTO THE MINISTRIES OF LECTOR AND ACOLYTE AND ORDINATION TO THE DIACONATE

241 In accord with the Circular Letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (November 28, 1997), scrutinies are to take place prior to institution into the ministries of lec tor and acolyte 30 and prior to ordination to the diaconate. 31 242 Required documentation and procedures for institution into the minis tries of lector and acolyte include the following (these are to be followed when petitioning for institution into the ministry of lector and repeated when petitioning for the ministry of acolyte): a. The candidate handwrites his request to be admitted to the specific ministry. This request must be composed by the candidate person ally and written in his own hand; it “may not be copied formulary, or worse, a photocopied text.” 32 b. The director of formation prepares a personal report, which should be detailed, making use of the model found in the Circular Letter and which should include the candidate’s annual self and peer assessments. c. The candidate’s proper pastor is consulted, and he writes a letter of recommendation.

30 31 32

See CL, enclosures II and III; BNFPD, no. 59; CIC, c. 1035 §1.

See CL, enclosures II and III. CL, enclosure II, no. 1.

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