IN THE UNITED STATES

1 The national directory for the formation , Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons inthe UNITED STATES is an important point of reference for those Churches in whichthe permanent diaconate is a living and active reality. It contains the guidelinesand directives to be used when preparing or updating a diaconate program and formulat-ing policies for the ministry and life of deacons. This volume also includes Basic Standards for Readinessfor the formation of permanentdeacons in the UNITED STATES from the Bishops Committee on the Diaconate and the committee documentVisit of Consultation Teams to Diocesan Permanent DiaconateFormation AvailableBasic Norms for the formation of Permanent Deacons/ directory for the Ministryand Life of Permanent DeaconsThe permanent diaconate, restored by the Second Vatican Council, has flourished in thelast few decades in many parts of the Church with promising results.

2 The growth ofthe permanent diaconate now gives rise to a need for certain unity of direction and clarification of concepts, as well as for practical encouragement and more clearly definedpastoral objectives. English: No. 5242, 144 pp. Spanish: No. 5806, 148 for the Renewal of the DiaconateWritings on the historical development of the 185-7, 276 pp. Wives of DeaconsOrdinary Women, Extraordinary Lives(video)Wives of Deacons: Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Livesis an informing series of interviewsof six deacons wives. Engaging and diverse, these interviews address the challenges,questions, joys, and concerns that face deacons wives during the course of their formation and during their 5-617, 17:24 minutesTo purchase these resources or to obtain a catalog of other USCCB titles, call toll-free 800-235-8722.

3 In the Washington metropolitan area or from outside the UNITED STATES , call202-722-8716. Visit the bishops Internet site at Para pedidos en espa ol, llameal 800-235-8722 y presione 4 para hablar con un representante del servicio al cliente en espa No. 5-368 USCCB PublishingWashington, 1-57455-368-2 national directory FOR THE formation , MINISTRY, AND LIFE OF PERMANENT DEACONS IN THE UNITED STATES national directory FOR THE formation , MINISTRY, AND LIFE OF PERMANENT DEACONS IN THE UNITED STATESI ncluding the Secondary DocumentsBASIC STANDARDS FOR READINESS andVISIT OF CONSULTATION TEAMS TO DIOCESAN PERMANENT DIACONATE formation PROGAMSThis national directory for the formation , Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons inthe UNITED Statesis intended to serve the entire Catholic Church in the UnitedStates.

4 Its principles, norms, and pastoral applications are directed specifically to the Latin Rite. Nonetheless, it may be of assistance as a consistent reference for all Churches sui iurisin the UNITED STATES in the preparation of the adaptations necessary to address the particular traditions, pastoral life, and requirements of theCode of Canons of the Eastern STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPSThe document national directory for the formation , Ministry, and Life of PermanentDeacons in the UNITED STATES was developed by the Bishops Committee on theDiaconate of the UNITED STATES Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

5 It was approved by the full body of UNITED STATES Catholic bishops at its June 2003 General Meeting, received the subsequent recognitioof the Holy See, and has beenauthorized for publication by the William P. FayGeneral Secretary, USCCBS cripture texts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, copyright 1991, 1986, and 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC20017, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, copyright 2000, Libreria Editrice Vaticana UNITED STATES Conference of Catholic Bishops,Washington, Used with permissions.

6 All rights from the General directory for Catechesis, copyright 1998, Libreria EditriceVaticana UNITED STATES Conference of Catholic Bishops, are used with permission. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the English translation of the Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests,and of Deacons(Second Typical Edition) 2000, 2002, International Committee onEnglish in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Excerpts from the Code of Canon Law: Latin-English Edition,New English of Codex Iuris Cznonici prepared under the auspices of the Canon LawSociety of America, Washington, 1998.

7 Used with permission. Cover art: Scala/Art Resource, NYFirst Printing, February 2005 ISBN 1-57455-368-2 Copyright 2005, UNITED STATES Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any formor by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or byany information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from thecopyright holder. Office of the President 3211 FOURTH STREET NE x WASHINGTON DC 20017-1194 x 202-541-3100 x FAX 202-541-3166 Cardinal Francis George, OMI Archbishop of Chicago UNITED STATES Conference of Catholic Bishops DECREE OF PROMULGATION In June 2003, the members of the UNITED STATES Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the national directory for the formation , Life and Ministry of Permanent Deacons in the UNITED STATES .

8 This action, made in accord with canon 236 of the Code of Canon Law and with n. 15 of the Ratiofundamentalis institutionis diaconorum permanentium, was confirmed ad quinquennium experimenti gratia by the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Congregation for Clergy (Prot. N. 78/2000), signed by Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and Dar o Cardinal Castrill n-Hoyos, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, and dated October 30, 2004. By a subsequent decree of the same aforementioned Congregations dated October 12, 2009 (Prot.)

9 N. 78/2000), and signed by Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, and Cl udio Cardinal Hummes, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, approval was granted ad alterum quinquennium for the text of the national directory for the formation , Life and Ministry of Permanent Deacons in the UNITED STATES as originally approved by the UNITED STATES Conference of Catholic Bishops in June 2003. As President of the UNITED STATES Conference of Catholic Bishops I hereby decree that the effective date of this Decree of Promulgation will be December 26, 2009, the Feast of St.

10 Stephen, Deacon and Martyr. Given at the offices of the UNITED STATES Conference of Catholic Bishops in the city of Washington, the District of Columbia, on the 4th day of November, in the year of our Lord 2009, the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo. Francis Cardinal George, Monsignor David J. Malloy Archbishop of Chicago General Secretary, USCCB President TABLE OF CONTENTSN ational directory for the formation , Ministry, andLife of Permanent Deacons in the UNITED to the Blessed Virgin Diaconate in the Second Vatican Council and the Post-Conciliar Period: A Historical The Diaconate in the UNITED Development of This national Objective and Interpretation of This national ONEDOCTRINAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE The Sacramental Nature of the Ecclesial Communion and Reestablished Order of The Church s Ministry of the Word.