Basic Requirements for Admission to the Diaconal Formation Program

DIOCESE OF AUSTIN DIACONAL FORMATION PROGRAM ASPIRANT APPLICATION PACKET 

Basic Requirements for Admission to the Diaconal Formation Program

1. Age Requirements:
   1. The minimum age for men to be considered for diaconal formation is thirty (30) years (National Directory 178) by the due date of the application.
   2. The maximum age is fifty-nine (59) years by the due date of the application.
   3. For the class of 2025, the application due date is June 3, 2019.
2. Married Applicant Requirements:
   1. Married applicants must be:
      1. in a marriage that the Catholic Church considers valid.  
      2. in a valid marriage for at least three (3) years (National Directory 178, note 8) by the due date of the application (for the class of 2025, the application due date is June 3, 2019.).
      3. Marriage validity and duration are verified by an official marriage certificate issued by the parish where the marriage occurred. 
   2. If the married applicant or his wife had any prior marriages, either death certificates or documents from a diocesan tribunal regarding the prior marriages are required to verify that their currently marriage is valid. 
   3. Married applicants must demonstrate evidence of a stable marriage; this is done through a letter of recommendation from someone who has known the couple for several years, a marriage inventory tool, and interviews.
   4. The married applicant must have the support of his wife, demonstrated by a handwritten letter she writes to the Bishop submitted with his application. This requirement is substantiated through letters of recommendation by persons who have known the applicant and his wife (if married) for many years of their marriage.
   5. The applicant and his wife must be cleared to minister to youth and adults within the diocese. This involves a criminal background check (typically done in the first year of formation) and completion of the “Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM)” workshop.  This must be done prior to entering formation.
3. Single Applicant Requirements:
   1. The single applicant must be living in a mature, celibate state.
   2. If the single applicant is a widower, two (2) years should elapse between his application and the date of his spouse’s passing (National Directory 178, note 8). 
4. Convert/Revert Requirements:                                                                                                         Two (2) years should elapse between a convert applicant’s entry (or a returning Catholic’s       reentry) into the Church (National Directory 178, note 8) and the application due date (the 2025 class application due date is 6-3-19).
5.   Health Requirement.
   The applicant should be in good health, capable of integrating the rigors of a strenuous academic formation program with family responsibilities, work duties, and ministry commitments. He should have a physical examination within six (6) months prior to the application date, and have the examining physician submit to the diaconal formation program a report – the report form for the physician to complete can be found in the application.
6. Financial Stability Requirement.
   Permanent deacons must be financially stable and self-sufficient. For most deacons, diaconal ministry is done part time; deacons are not paid for their ministry. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate a source of income for support of self and family, including providing for their retirement needs.
7. Education Requirement.
   Graduation from high school or the equivalent (GED) is required. This is demonstrated by a diploma, transcripts indicating completion, or other equivalent documentation from the school. Applicants must commit to completing all studies required during the five years of the formation period.
   The National Directory calls for an understanding of the fundamentals of Catholic teaching.  Familiarity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, both Universal and U.S., as well as a brief overview of the Bible with awareness of appropriate resources is required. A certificate of completion of diocese classes called Basic Teaching of the Catholic Faith must be submitted by the time formation begins.
8. Service Character Requirement.
   The applicant should have a reasonable knowledge of and desire to pursue the service role of the deacon in the Church – what Pope Paul VI called “a natural inclination of service" (Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem, II, 8). This inclination is discerned in the applicant’s record of ministry, his pastor’s input and in interviews.
   note: Due to the demands of formation, active ministry at the parish may need to be reduced during formation.
9. Spiritual Character Requirement.
   Each applicant should be willing to begin an intense spiritual journey into a deeper prayer life in accordance with church teachings when entering formation. He will submit a letter of recommendation from a parishioner with whom the applicant has shared a ministry. In addition, a man in formation is to meet monthly with a spiritual director to guide his discernment and formation progress.
10.   Commitment Requirement.
    The applicant must be willing to make a strong commitment of time for prayer, study and ministry in the 5-year formation program, making formation a priority.  If married, the spouse must also understand and agree to this commitment. The couple’s commitment is attested to in the application.