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

X NDPD 134

Dimensions in the Formation of Deacons

f. The USCCB’s Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies for Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Dea cons and Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People , as well as diocesan norms related to safe environment training g. Spiritual theology, the spiritual traditions of the Church as applied to one’s own spiritual journey, and the spiritual life of the faithful h. Liturgy and its historical, spiritual, and juridical aspects, with par ticular attention to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and to the liturgical rites the deacon will celebrate i. Canon law, especially canonical considerations pertaining to rights and obligations, diocesan structures, preaching, sacraments and sac ramentals, and the administration of temporal goods j. Ecumenism and interreligious dialogue principles, norms, and dimensions in pastoral ministry 40 k. Theology of Catholic evangelization: “evangelization of cultures and the inculturation of the message of faith,” multicultural expressions of the faith, and missiology 41 134 This content is structured further in Norms 5 through 12 at the end of chapter six. Those responsible for the preparation of the academic component in the candidate and post-ordination stages of formation should determine a course of study that complies with this content prior to ordination, as well as a course of study that will further develop this content after ordination as part of a structured post-ordination program for continuing education and formation. Before ordination, the deacon candidate must demonstrate the proper level of competence in all these areas required for ordination and indicate his openness to further devel opment by post-ordination continuing formation.

40 Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, The Ecumenical Dimension in the Formation of Pastoral Workers (March 9, 1998), in Ecumenical Formation of Pastoral Workers (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 1998). See BNFPD, no. 88. 41 PDV, no. 55.

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