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CONTINUING FORMATION OF DEACONS

Characteristics

63. The continuing formation of deacons is a human necessity which must be seen in continuity with the divine call to serve the Church in the ministry and with the initial formation given to deacons, to the extent that these are considered two initial moments in a single, living, process of Christian and diaconal life. (²²⁷) Indeed, “those who are ordained to the diaconate are obliged to ongoing doctrinal formation which perfects and completes what they received prior to ordination”, (²²⁸) so that, by a periodic renewal of the “I am” pronounced by deacons at their ordination, the vocation “to” the diaconate continues and finds expression as vocation “in” the diaconate. On the part of both the Church which provides ongoing formation and of deacons who are its recipients, such formation should be regarded as a mutual obligation and duty arising from the nature of the vocational commitment which has been assumed.

The continuing need to provide and receive adequate, integral formation is an indispensable obligation for both bishops and deacons.

Ecclesiastical norms regarding ongoing formation (²²⁹) have constantly emphasised the obligatory nature of such formation for the apostolic life and stressed the need for it to be global, interdisciplinary, profound, scientific and propedeutic. Application of these norms is all the more necessary in those instances where initial formation did not adhere to the ordinary model.

Continuing formation should be informed with the characteristics of fidelity to Christ, to the Church and to “continuing conversion” which is a fruit of sacramental grace articulated in the pastoral charity proper to every moment of ordained ministry. This formation is similar to the fundamental choice, which must be reaffirmed and renewed throughout the permanent diaconate by a long series of coherent responses which are based on and animated by the initial acceptance of the ministry. (²³⁰)