The temptation to blog...
about the process of entering into the diaconate, which I formally began yesterday by attending an interview with the director of the Office for the Diaconate.
It would be a fascinating story--one to rival my year of grace journal--but I fear it would break several of my "golden rules", the main two being: never blog on really personal stuff and never blog on anything that might adversely affect my future.
Of course, Year of Grace IS really personal stuff, but its stuff in the past, and it turned out all right in the end, so that's why now (six years after the event) I am able to share it with the world.
But with regard to the process of becoming a deacon in the great Archdiocese of Melbourne--that is a road that is fraught with dangers and possible wrong turns and dead ends. It is also a journey that is going to make great demands on my patience--a virtue which, as many will tell you, I have in short supply.
Suffice it to say that at this point I am an applicant to become an aspirant to become a candidate to become a permanent deacon. They are just starting the diaconate program here in Melbourne (the last diocese of Australia to do so) and there has been an enthusiastic response--as many as 58 enquirers. Only a fraction of those will make it through to ordination in four years time (the canonical period of formation). For some the journey could be longer. For a goodly number the journey may lead them in a completely different direction and never reach ordination. For all I know, I could be one of the latter.
So this is one temptation I am going to resist except for small reports on my progress from here on in. But do not despair, dear reader. I intend to keep a diary of my experiences along the way, and one day, ONE day, I will blog it...
posted by Schütz @ 9:05 am
5 Comments
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5 Comments:
David,
Great news and good luck; God be with you.
I should imagine that given your training and pastoral background, your wrestling with truth and coming into the Church at personal cost, not to mention your manifest abilities, you would seem a worthy candidate, "Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience" (I Tim. iii, 9).
Promise me you'll always wear a dalmatic at liturgy, not just as stole!
Now don't upset +Hart whatever you do... ;-)
Perhaps you could adopt some of the holy deacons as heavenly patrons? I suggest:
St Romanus the Melodist - convert from Judaism, Deacon, and Ecclesiastical Hymnographer, far-famed for his kontakia and the Akathist Hymn (sounds analogous...);
St Alcuin of York - Deacon, scholar, Abbot, and Imperial Liturgist (ditto...);
and, of course, the Holy Trio of SS Stephen, Lawrence, and Vincent, Deacons and Martyrs.
Oh, almost forgot another good deacon patron:
St Ephraem – Deacon, Hymnographer and Doctor of the Church, "the Harp of the Holy Spirit".
Will the instruction for the deacons be standardised i.e. Faithful to the Magisterium?
Sharon
David, this is wonderful news!
God's blessings to you on your journey!
That's a pretty cool list of heavenly patrons Joshua posts!
This is very wise of you at a number of levels.
When discussing formation issues (as some now-dismissed seminary bloggers have learned) you run the risk of invoking the ire of your formators as well as putting them in a situation where their voice is not heard. Those in formation for Orders - presbyteral or diaconal - would do well to keep their formation IN the program.
People in the application process for Orders or religous life also so well to NOT make their intentions and aspirations too public. When I deal with young men in high school or college considering the priesthood, I always advise them to keep it to themselves...
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