Thank you for your interest
in Diocesan Diaconate Formation
From our Director:
It is at our baptism, that each of us are immersed into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as the most Beloved Son of our loving God. As we live out our daily lives, each of us comes to understand who we are as a child of that loving God. It is also through this understanding, that as men of faith you may feel called to serve God in a distinct way as a permanent deacon. The call to the Permanent Diaconate is a call to serve God and the people of God through the three-fold ministry of Word, Altar and Charity.
The answering of this call to the permanent diaconate is one that must be discerned carefully by each man in his personal prayer, and in his conversations with his wife and family. I encourage those of you who may be discerning this call to the permanent diaconate to talk to your wife and family, a parish priest, a deacon or to contact my office so that we can have a chat about your discernment journey.
God Bless,
Deacon Berkley Guthro
Director of Deacons
Deacons from our diocese share their stories:
See this video from the Archdiocese of Edmonton:
Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick
Deacon Berkley Guthro, Chair
Mrs. Jessie Guthro
Rev. Duaine Devereaux
Ms. Gladys MacDougall
Rev. Colin MacKinnon
Mr. Joe Praught
Mrs. Sandra Praught
Deacon Henry Van De Wiel
Mrs. Minnie Van De Wiel
DIACONATE FORMATION PROGRAM
- A four-year program of 10 weekends a year including a retreat
- Years’ Accents: i.Foundations, ii.Christology, iii.Ecclesiology, iv.Pastoral
Each weekend to include: human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral elements - Another Saturday in the month is set aside for such courses as Ministry in the Christian Tradition, Sacraments, Adult Education, Biblical Foundations, etc. for those who did not take the St. F X Diploma in Ministry
- Spouses expected to be in attendance each weekend with their husbands
- Teachers are expected to submit an outline of their courses. They can also ask for reflection papers from candidates to indicate their involvement in their courses
- Teachers to include deacons, laymen/women, religious and priests
Spiritual direction and, if needed, counseling for candidates - A Time of internship: shadowing a deacon/pastor/parish/ministry with mentor
Courses include:
| Theological Foundations | Scripture | Diocesan Policies |
| Personal Development | Prayer | Pastoral Care |
| History Church Issues | Eschatology | Contemporary |
| Diaconate Liturgy of Hours | Liturgy | Praying Psalms |
| Christology | Ecumenism | Canon Law |
| Spirituality | Morals | Homiletics |
| Ecclesiology | Vatican II/CCC | Mariology |
| Presiding | Social Teachings | Sacraments |
Year One - Foundations
Theological Foundations
History and Theology of the Diaconate
Introduction to the Hours:
Prayer of the Church
Personal Growth and Human Development
Integration
Principles of Pastoral Care
Introduction to Sacred Scripture
Lord Teach Us To Pray
ISSUES
Self-Awareness, Myers Briggs
Enneagram
Philosophy and Life
Death and Dying
Retreat
Year Two - Christology
Vatican II
Scripture: New Testament/Synoptics
Spirituality
Moral Theology
History of the Church
Christology
Scripture: Gospel of St. John
Liturgy
God: Trinity
Retreat
ISSUES
Ecumenism
Judaism
Islam
Eastern Churches
Year Three - Ecclesiology
Canon Law
Ecclesiology
Ecumenism
Scripture: St. Paul
Presiding
Integration
Social Teaching of the Church
Homiletics
Diaconal Spirituality
Hot Button Issues
Year Four - Pastoral
Social Justice
Pastoral Care
Integration/Discernment/Identity
What Deacons Need to Know about Sacraments
Integration
Diaconal Issues: Guidelines of Diocese, National Directory, Ordination, Deacons Manual
Saturday Sessions on Presiding at all sacraments at which Deacons preside
Five-Day Retreat
ISSUES
Ministry Protocols re Abuse
Marriage Tribunal
Diocesan Finances and Structures
Visit to Pastoral Centre offices
Faith Formation
Hospital Pastoral Visit
Liturgy of the Word in Anticipation of Eucharist
Feelings Around Abuse Scandals
Dreams
Social Skills
Saturday Practicums: Baptism, marriage, Funerals, Liturgy of the Word in Anticipation of Eucharist, Morning and Evening Prayer (cathedral)
Contact:
Deacon Berkley Guthro
Director, Permanent Diaconate
ph (902) 625-1045 or toll-free 1-800-656-5311 extension 231
Email
Location:
St. Joseph Parish, Port Hawkesbury
138 Granville St., Port Hawkesbury NS B9A 2G1
Mail:
PO Box 100
Sydney, NS B1P 6G9
September 16, 2011 Ordination
September 14, 2012 Ordination