Thinking about becoming a deacon?

Now is the time to contact diocese to learn more.

Do you have a desire to serve the Church in a deeper way?

Do you have the heart for serving others?

If so, you may be interested in learning more about becoming a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Alexandria.

Deacon Richard Mitchell, director for the Office of the Permanent Diaconate, is now taking contact information and fielding questions from men who may be interested in discerning this ministry.

If interested, contact Deacon Mitchell at (318) 445-6424, ext. 206 or email: dcnrmitchell@diocesealex.org.

The qualifications for the permanent diaconate include: must be at least 35 years old at the time of ordination, must have wife’s consent (if married) and can be married, but can’t marry or re-marry after ordination.

The four dimensions of formation — Human, Spiritual, Intellectual, and Pastoral — are learned throughout the five-year formation process that consists of Aspirancy, Candidacy, and Post-Ordination.

In the Aspirancy and Candidacy stages, the men and their wives are required to attend classes. One weekend a month, an instructor from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans comes to Alexandria to teach the aspirants philosophy and the theory of ministry. A psychological exam will also be done at this time.

The next four years include the formal study of theology for the Candidates. Church history, the Sacraments, Preaching, Moral Theology, and Scripture are some of the courses the men and their wives will study in classes held from September to July.

After the Candidate passes the theology curriculum and the psychological exam, the Bishop makes a final determination of his readiness for ordination.

Just as priests and bishops are ordained, a deacon is the third order in the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

After ordination, the deacon becomes incardinated into the Diocese of Alexandria. The Bishop assigns the deacon to a parish or charitable ministry.