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

NDPD

Candidate Stage of Diaconal Formation

250

16. A comprehensive seminar should be conducted at the end of the candidate stage of formation to enhance the candidates’ integration of learning and to assess their readiness for ordination. (234) 17. The responsibility of formation personnel culminates in the prepa ration of a yearly written report on each aspirant and candidate that will be presented to the diocesan bishop through the director of formation. (236) 18. The director of formation must verbally transmit a yearly report to each candidate. (237) 19. Scrutinies are to take place prior to institution into the ministries of lector and acolyte and prior to ordination to the diaconate. (241) 20. A retreat or day of reflection should precede the reception of the ministries of lector and acolyte. (246) 21. An interval of at least six months must elapse between the conferring of the ministry of acolyte and ordination to the diaconate. (248) 22. A canonical retreat of at least five days must precede ordination. (248) 23. After the institution into each ministry and after ordination, a cer tificate should be prepared containing the date, place, and name of the installing or ordaining prelate. It should be signed and sealed by the chancellor. This information also should be recorded in the diocesan book of ministries and ordinations. The director of forma tion should also notify the church in which the newly ordained dea con was baptized so that the information regarding the ordination may be included in that church’s baptismal-sacramental records. The parish of Baptism may notify the director of formation when the information has been recorded. The newly ordained deacon’s personal and permanent file should also include a copy of the dioc esan bishop’s letter of call to ordination as well as the written testi monial of ordination. All of these canonical documents should be transferred, as soon after the ordination as is convenient, from the formation office to a permanent location among the curia records in the diocesan chancery. (250)

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