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

X NDPD 306

Conclusion 305 It is the desire of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that, as implemented in accord with local or regional resources, this National Directory will provide a sure directive for promoting harmony and unity in diaconal formation and ministry throughout the dioceses of the USCCB, as well as within the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. In so doing, this National Directory will ensure a certain unifor mity in the identity, selection, and formation of deacons, as well as pro vide for more clearly defined pastoral objectives in diaconal ministries. 306 This National Directory is presented to the diaconal communities in the United States of America as a tangible expression of the USCCB’s grat itude to them for their dedicated ministry to God’s People. It is also intended to challenge and encourage them to be, with greater dedica tion and clarity, “a specific sacramental sign, in the Church, of Christ the Servant.” 1

1

BNFPD, no. 5.

157