If a man, after prayer and reflection, thinks that God may be calling him to be a deacon, it is time to begin the application process. It is normal to waver. Is God calling me or not? Should I apply now or wait? It is better to apply sooner rather than later because the application process itself is an exercise in discernment.
In the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the first two steps are to contact the archdiocesan coordinator of diaconate vocations or The St. Paul Seminary’s Institute for Diaconate Formation in St. Paul and to attend the institute’s Deacon Discernment Day. Next, to be eligible to apply, the person must have completed the Pillars Course of the seminary’s Catechetical Institute or to be enrolled in the program.
There are multiple steps to the application process, and it typically takes months to complete them. The first step is the pre-application. Once requested, and if deemed eligible by the Institute for Diaconate Formation, the applicant is given access to the online form. The applicant provides written answers to a short list of questions such as “What does your heart desire?” “How do you experience God in your life?” “How have you responded to God so far?”
The second step is the inquiry interview. The applicant, and if married, also his wife, meet with both the director and associate director of admissions. The discussion is wide ranging and delves into the person’s faith, his prayer life, marriage and family, employment, interests, Church involvement, and the ways that he offers service to others. The interview is for mutual discernment for the applicant and the directors to determine whether to continue with the application process.
The third step is to complete the application for aspirancy. This is a longer and more detailed application. The applicant writes an autobiography that tells the story of his family of origin, his current family, his spiritual journey, his participation in the life of the Church, his education, past and current employment history and some of the significant ups and downs along the way. In addition, the applicant must obtain four letters of recommendation, one from his pastor, a fellow parishioner, a friend, and a coworker. He must submit a medical assessment, be VIRTUS certified, participate in a Called and Gifted Seminar if it is offered, and be working to implement the seven Catholic Watchmen practices. If he is married, his wife also submits an autobiography with spiritual reflections, and the couple completes a Roseville-based Prepare/Enrich marriage assessment.
The fourth step is the interview with the admissions committee. The committee is comprised of several deacons, a deacon’s wife or other women versed in discernment, a priest, and the associate director of admissions. The applicant, and if married, also his wife, discuss in greater depth the topics addressed in his autobiography as well as his ongoing reflections on his perception of God’s unfolding call to serve as a deacon. Again, like the inquiry interview, the second interview is for mutual discernment, for the applicant to determine if he wants to be admitted to aspirancy, the initial formation program to become a permanent deacon, and for the admissions committee to decide if they will recommend him to the archbishop.
If recommended for aspirancy, the final steps are to clear a criminal background check and a financial background check, after which the director of the Institute for Diaconate Formation submits the recommendation to the archbishop for his decision.
This multi-faceted, multi-stage and intentional process is much more than a job application. It helps the man and his wife to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit working through the Church to discern if Jesus the Servant is calling him to serve as a deacon.
Father Van Sloun is the director of clergy personnel for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. This column is part of a series on the sacrament of holy orders.
