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

NDPD 135

National Directory for Permanent Deacons

Pastoral Dimension 135 An integral formation must relate the human, spiritual, and intellectual dimensions to pastoral practice. “The whole formation imparted to [the participants] . . . aims at preparing them to enter into communion with the charity of Christ. . . . Hence their formation in its different aspects must have a fundamentally pastoral character.” 42 Within that context, the pastoral dimension in initial formation is not merely an appren ticeship to familiarize the participant in diaconal formation with some pastoral techniques. Its aim, however, is to initiate the participant into the sensitivity of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, who came to serve and not to be served. Pastoral assignments embody this orienta tion, promoting learning through active engagement in a pastoral sit uation. Pastoral assignments foster a general integration in the forma tional process, forging a close link between the human, spiritual, and intellectual dimensions in formation. Evangelization; Catholic schools; catechetics; religious education; youth ministry; social justice outreach opportunities; rural ministry; ecumenism; prison ministry; the care of the sick, elderly, and dying; and service opportunities in varied cultural settings—all these indicate the breadth of experiences to which the par ticipant may be exposed in the course of his pastoral formation. Pastoral Dimension Objectives 136 The pastoral dimension in diaconal formation should strengthen and enhance the exercise of the prophetic, priestly, and servant-leadership func tions—deriving from his baptismal consecration—already lived and exer cised by the participant in diaconal formation. In each stage of formation, he must be taught how to proclaim the Christian message and teach it, how to lead others in communal celebrations of liturgical prayer, and how to witness to the Church in a Christian service marked by charity. The demonstration of pastoral skills is a crucial element in the assessment of fitness for ordina tion. Therefore, the qualities to be developed for these tasks are as follows: a

42

PDV, no. 57; see BNFPD, no. 85.

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