Diocese opens doors for more deacons

Information sessions on vocations to permanent diaconate to be held Nov. 18, 20

Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, calls a potential deacon to candidacy at
Holy Rosary Cathedral Sept. 8. Nathan Rumohr / The B.C. Catholic.

Men who are interested in a call to the permanent diaconate will be able to learn more about the vocation this month:

Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, has decided to begin a second formation process starting in September 2013, and interested men are invited to hear about the process at St. Andrew Kim Parish in Surrey Nov. 18, and at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Vancouver Nov. 20.

At the information sessions Archbishop Miller will talk about the importance of the permanent diaconate vocation and what kinds of qualities are required for admission into the program.

"Our deacons will need to nurture a deep interior life in order to meet their obligations," he wrote in his 2011 pastoral letter on the restoration of the permanent diaconate. The archbishop explained that for deacons to carry their ministry and apostolic activities successfully they would need to maintain "an intense life of personal and liturgical prayer" that can "only be attained through a profound friendship with Christ."

Msgr. Gregory Smith, director of the permanent diaconate program, will also be on hand at the sessions, along with a number of current candidates and their wives, to answer specific questions about the vocation.

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.