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

NDPD 116

National Directory for Permanent Deacons

To this list may be added other important qualities, such as the ability to manage conflict, collaborate, and organize, always contributing to the unity of the parish. 116 The Congregation for Catholic Education’s Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons highlights four aspects of human maturity that must be considered when developing initial formation programs for deacons. These include the following: (1) formation in the human vir tues, (2) the capacity to relate to others, (3) affective maturity (including psychosexual maturity and health), and (4) training in freedom, which “includes the education of the moral conscience.” 8 Deacons, above all, must be persons who can relate well to others. 9 This ability flows from an affective maturity that “presupposes . . . the victorious struggle against their own selfishness.” 10 Mature ways of relating to others are important servant-leadership qualities. Those who aspire to this ministry need to collaborate well with others and to confront challenges in a constructive way. “A precondition for an authentic human maturity is training in free dom, which is expressed in obedience to the truth of one’s own being.” 11 117 Human formation aims to enhance the personality of the minister in such a way that he becomes “a bridge and not an obstacle for oth ers in their meeting with Jesus Christ.” 12 Accordingly, formation pro cesses need to be structured so as to nurture and encourage the partic ipants “to acquire and perfect a series of human qualities which will permit them to enjoy the trust of the community, to commit them selves with serenity to the pastoral ministry, to facilitate encoun ter and dialogue.” 13 Therefore, all of these various aspects of human maturity must be carefully considered when planning the formation program and when assessing a participant’s effective integration of

8 9

BNFPD, nos. 66-70. BNFPD, no. 67. BNFPD, no. 68.

10 11 12 13

BNFPD, no. 69; see PDV, no. 44. BNFPD, no. 66, citing PDV, no. 43.

BNFPD, no. 66.

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