ARTICLES

Deacon formation to begin with aspirancy process

By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian

Men who are thinking about beginning the journey for formation to becoming a deacon should first ask themselves three key questions, says Deacon Robert Ewan.

“One, do I want to do this?

“Two, do I have the skills to do this?

“Three, are other people encouraging me to do this?

Deacon Ewan, assistant director of the diocesan Office of the Vicar for Clergy, said these key questions are important as men who aspire to the diaconate must notify him by Sept. 1 if they hope to be part of this fall’s aspirancy process.

Those who are later invited to enter the program could possibly be ordained deacons in four years or even sooner if they have met requirements. But an invitation to the program is no guarantee that an individual will ultimately be ordained.

“It will help them to discern their call, dispel any myths about the diaconate and clarify expectations,” Deacon Ewan said of the aspirancy process. “They’re discerning and so are we.

“I’ve already received around 50 inquiries,” Deacon Ewan told The Catholic Virginian. “The likelihood is that we could have as many as 200 guys.

“Some of them have been experiencing a call to the diaconate for the last five years,” he said, adding that this call may have been encouraged by a man’s family members, pastors or other ministers.

While some aspirants will be selected for the new program to begin this fall, plans are for another group to begin in the fall of 2008 and another group each consecutive year so that ultimately ordinations to the diaconate will be held in 2011 and 2012 and beyond.

“Not everyone who is discerned for the program will be called to begin aspirancy this year,” Deacon Ewan said.

In addition to the key questions the potential deacons must ask themselves, there is another important element for consideration, Deacon Ewan asserted.

“They must spend time in the morning and evening talking and listening to God,” he said.

Information meetings on the upcoming deacon formation program will be held this fall beginning in November. There will be three meetings in each Vicariate (Central, Eastern and Western) with potential deacon aspirants and their wives invited to all three meetings.

“We’re looking for the well-rounded person of  faith who can nourish the spirituality of everybody,” Deacon Ewan said.

He cited four models of deacons who are needed for ministry in the Diocese of Richmond. The first is that of pastoral leader.

Because of the shortage of priests and the likelihood that the shortage will continue, there is a need for people who can lead parishes in the absence of a priest. Common titles for this role are deacon administrator, pastoral coordinator and parish director.

“Some deacons will be called to that role as well as some lay ministers,” Deacon Ewan said, pointing out that he had served as pastoral coordinator of St. John Neumann parish in Powhatan when the parish no longer had a priest as pastor.

“What is important is that these people must attain a master’s degree and a level of experience that prepares them for the role.”

The second model of deacon is pastoral staff member. This is a deacon who works full-time in parish ministry and might be a pastoral associate (such as Deacon David Nemetz at St. Michael’s, Glen Allen), music minister (Deacon Christopher Morash, director of worship at Incarnation, Charlottesville), director of Christian formation (Deacon Gary Harmeyer of Church of the Ascension, Virginia Beach) or administration director (such as Deacons James Greer at St. Edward’s, Richmond, and Andrew Ferguson at St. Michael’s, Glen Allen).

The third model is that of specialist, a deacon who performs a specific function. An example would be a deacon who is a hospital chaplain or prison minister.

But the fourth and largest model — filled by perhaps 90 to 95 percent of deacons in the Diocese of Richmond — is that of the parish deacon. They would have word, worship and service responsibilities at the direction of their pastors and would work with and along side of lay ministers and staff in the parish.

These would be those who proclaim the Gospel or preach occasionally at Sunday Mass, or who may work in sacramental preparation and presiding at baptisms and funerals without a Mass.

Deacon Ewan said that he is in dialogue with Father Mark Lane, Vicar for Clergy, and Father Michael Renninger, director of the Office for Vocations, as well as with members of the Deacon Personnel Committee in developing a “shared understanding of the desired characteristics of the deacon.”

The role of the deacon’s wife is most important, Deacon Ewan said.

“The deacon and his wife are called to accept the public role as a witness to Christ,” he explained, adding that they both accept a call to fidelity, charity and service.

“While the deacon himself will have responsibilities in Word, Worship and Service, his spouse will also play a key role. Together they will search out the depths of the ministry.”

Deacons and their wives are expected to enter into an established community life in the diocese which reflects those who have been called.

“Currently the diaconate is represented by a Deacon Council (chaired by Deacon Christopher Colville of Redeemer parish in Mechanicsville) made up of deacons and their spouses,” Deacon Ewan said. “The members of the Council are elected.”

There is also the previously mentioned Deacon Personnel Committee which will be instrumental in selection of deacon aspirants and deacon candidates.

“We are revitalizing the community life aspect of all deacons and their wives,” Deacon Ewan said. He added that the Deacon Council has endorsed a plan of quarterly vicariate meetings of deacons and their wives and monthly group reflection meetings.

“Deacons will be expected to be fully involved in the community life,” he said. “Aspirants and their wives will be invited to join in the fun — and it will be fun.”

Deacons are also expected to participate in Clergy Study Days and retreats. An ongoing formation plan will be created for each deacon.

The diocese’s new Pastoral Ministry Leadership Formation program under Deacon Richard Miech and some of its classes will be a natural draw for current and future deacons during their life-long formation.

Deacon Ewan emphasized that the call to the diaconate involves much discernment.

“Individuals must be aware that by putting their name in, they are entering into a discernment,” he said.

“While they may feel a call to the diaconate, it is the Church which ultimately calls them to service as a deacon.”

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