Church Documents
Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons and the Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons (Vatican Congregations for Catholic Education and for the Clergy, 1998)
National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005; publication of new edition is pending)
Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem (Norms for Restoring the Permanent Diaconate in the Latin Church, Pope St. Paul VI, 1967)
Ad Pascendum (Pope St. Paul VI, 1972)
Ministeria Quaedam (Pope St. Paul VI, 1972)
Deacons: Active Apostles of the New Evangelization (Pope St. John Paul II, 2000)
From the Diakonia of Christ to the Diakonia of the Apostles (International Theological Commission, 2002)
Leaven Columns
Deacon’s life benefits from integration of dual vocations
How can deacons do justice to both of their vocations?
Diaconate deepens a man’s life in Christ
Observance of holy days adds meaning to all the rest
Are you intentional about making holiness a priority?
Holy Week reminds us that it is Christ himself calling us to the margins
Begin the journey of eucharistic revival with 40-for-40 this Lent
What is your plan for holiness?
A deacon exercises his ‘ministry’ every day of the week
The church turns to you for its next generation of deacons
Exploring the diaconate? A new cohort is forming
One man’s gifts keep on giving through diaconal program here
Lent calls us to find God in the silence
Deacons serve with a father’s heart
Deacons can be ‘companions’ to us all on our journey of faith
How can we foster communion during this universal separation?
Few are called to give homilies, but we’re all called to receive them
Diaconate originates with ‘the seven’ chosen by the apostles
Are permanent deacons necessary?
Deacons are uniquely poised to be a bridge for hurting people
St. Francis’ ministry as a deacon left lasting legacy
Deacons serve as bridge between the church and the world
Deacons must resist conservative versus liberal quagmire
Deacons serve as bridge between church and laity
Unique vantage point helps deacon identify needs
Diaconate flourishes with help of archdiocesan gifts
New deacons make their debut in parishes, in ministries
Deacons-to-be prepare to ‘close’ on service to archdiocese
Early church’s use of deaconesses being studied by commission
Embarrassment of riches will bear fruit for the church
Holy Spirit helped several deacons through their ‘firsts’
Deacons’ work in early church still much-needed today
Deacons, both on the altar and in training, can use prayers
There’s still time to check things off your ‘Becket list’
Christians must give both truth and compassion their due
New evangelization is work of the entire church
All Catholics — not just clergy — are called to preach
Learning to play good defense, or lessons St. Joseph taught me
Christ insists that our compassion inform our lives
Liturgy of the Hours helps us make an offering of our day
Church calls us to accompany the journey of the elderly
Seven habits of highly effective deacon candidates
Deacon heralds Resurrection at Easter Vigil Mass
Pope calls for homilies that invite us to grow in love
A peek at a day in the life of deacon candidates
Deacons are ministers of god’s merciful love
We must be bridges —not obstacles —to meeting Christ
Deacons remind us all to more closely imitate Christ
Discern your vocation, whatever it may be
Deacons are heralds of the Gospel
Deacons represent clerical service in a special way
Book Recommendations
Our Life of Service (Dcn. Harold Burke-Sivers)
A look at ‘Our Life of Service’ – book review (Leon Suprenant)
A Deacon’s Retreat (Dcn. James Keating)
The Heart of the Diaconate (Dcn. James Keating)
Understanding the Diaconate (Bishop W. Shawn McKnight)
Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Dcn. Dominic Cerrato)
The Character of the Deacon (Dcn. James Keating, ed.)