National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States of America

Guidelines for the formation of permanent deacons and their subsequent ministry and life as ordained ministers

Permanent deacons play a key role in the ministry of the Catholic Church. As participants in the apostolic ministry bestowed by Christ upon the apostles, they seek to serve the Church as Jesus did and witness to him in their families and secular professions.

The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States of America is a resource for use by diocesan bishops in the development of diaconal formation programs and the formulation of policies for the ministry and life of the deacons of a diocese. It seeks to help every diocese fully realize the purpose of the diaconate and its integration into the life of the local Church.

Issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, this document:

• Provides a historical overview of the diaconate and its subsequent developments in the United States

• Describes the role of the diaconate within the sacramental nature of the Church

• Explores a deacon’s roles within the Church as evangelizer, teacher, sanctifier, witness, and guide

• Addresses each stage of diaconal formation, including the aspirant, candidate, and post-ordination stages

• Explains the dimensions of diaconate formation and provides specific guidance on the organization, structure, and personnel for diocesan formation programs

The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States of America focuses on the identity of the deacon as “a living icon of Christ the Servant within the Church” and emphasizes the deacon as a minister of the Word, Liturgy, and Charity in the Church. It provides bishops with the guidance they need to recognize the permanent diaconate as a driving force for the Church’s service in their local Christian communities.

This new edition of the National Directory features:

• A newly designed cover with beautiful sacred art

• Colored tabs with paragraph numbers at the top of each page for easy navigation

• Carefully designed pages to make each page readable, organized, and inviting

• A document summary explaining the intended audience, the document’s origin, and the purpose it seeks to serve within the mission of the Church

• The official text of this work written by the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations

This edition is part of The USCCB Collection from Ascension, which features official documents from the United States bishops previously published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Format: Paperback

Language: English

Pages: 200