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

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National Directory for Permanent Deacons

life of the Catholic Church. 68 An ecumenical spirit should be integrated into all aspects of formation. Those who are or will be engaged in pastoral ministry must acquire “an authentically ecumenical disposition” 69 in their lives and ministry. The purpose of formation in ecumenism is to educate hearts and minds in the necessary human and religious dispositions that favor the search for Christian unity. A genuine ecumenism should be thoroughly incorporated into all aspects of diaconal formation, 70 remem bering that “genuine ecumenical formation must not remain solely aca demic; it should also include ecumenical experience.” 71 160 The Second Vatican Council also urged “its sons and daughters to enter with prudence and charity into discussion and collaboration with mem bers of other religions.” 72 Such a spirit must imbue a desire for ecumen ical and interreligious cooperation with Jews, Muslims, and members of other religions. The formation program must assist the participant in achieving a spirit of welcome, respect, and collaboration among people of good will. “The world, looking to us believers, exhorts us to cooper ate amongst ourselves and with the men and women of good will who profess no religion, asking us for effective responses regarding numerous issues: peace, hunger, the poverty that afflicts millions of people, the environmental crisis, violence, especially that committed in the name of religion, corruption, moral decay, the crisis of the family, of the econ omy, of finance, and especially of hope.” 73 The deacon may serve to link the Catholic Church to other Christian communities, other faith traditions, and civic organizations to address pressing social needs and to foster a collaborative sharing of material resources and personnel in 68 See Second Vatican Council, Decree on Ecumenism ( Unitatis Redintegratio ) (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 1964), nos. 1-4. 69 Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (March 25, 1993), no. 70. 70 Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Ecumenical Dimension , nos. 2-4. See also nos. 16-29. 71 Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Ecumenical Dimension , no. 28. 72 Second Vatican Council, Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions ( Nostra Aetate ) (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 1965), no. 2. 73 Pope Francis, Interreligious General Audience on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Nostra Aetate (October 28, 2015), www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2015/documents/papa-francesco _20151028_udienza-generale.html.

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