I just returned from spending last evening and all of today participating in a permanent diaconate formation program in a neighboring diocese. God bless my wife for her willingness to spend most of a weekend in a monastery that is over two hours from our home. She is not the one sensing a call, but she is supporting me as I discern.
The millions of readers of this blog know that I have been discerning a vocation to the permanent diaconate in a diocese that does not have a permanent diaconate formation program. However, there is hope. The leaders of my diocese are aware of my discernment and knew of my plans to attend the formation weekend.
There is much to "soak in" from the experience of this weekend. I may now be "falling through the cracks" in a positive way. The formation director in the neighboring diocese spent a fair amount of time discussing details of formation with my wife and me. He knows that my bishop must still authorize me to apply for formation in another diocese. The formation director seems to think that such authorization will be forthcoming. After learning that I have had a fair amount of theological education, the formation director also suggested that, if I am allowed to apply for formation and am accepted, I not follow the normal track for academic formation. He thinks I should consider pursuing an MA in Theology and is willing to incorporate that into my formation. I would take all of the same courses as other deacon aspirants/candidates. However, my academic formation would focus on courses that I would take online and I would not be required to do the assignments related to the regular formation program academic courses.
So, maybe this will finally happen. Several leaders of the national deacon community have mentioned that my discernment may be "one for the record books" due to the length and many twists and turns the journey has taken.
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