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Becoming a deacon involves a vocation from God; it is not simply another volunteer job or ministry. Therefore, a person becomes a deacon not just out of personal desire or interest, but for the common good of the Church as determined by the bishop. It is for these reasons that the selection, discernment and formation of deacon candidates are rigorous efforts. The entire formation process, in fact, is a journey of discernment. Through systematic opportunities for prayer, spiritual direction, formal course work and pastoral-skills development, the candidate is able to reflect critically on his life and the various ministries to which he might be assigned. This process of discernment continues to the very moment of ordination. If you are considering a vocation to the permanent diaconate, please review the General Criteria tab to learn more. If you meet the established criteria, please complete the form below. You may e-mail questions to: [email protected]
A new cohort for late 2025 will be announced in the Catholic Virginian July 2025 issue. In the meantime, interested inquirers should contact their pastor to discuss their calling to the diaconate.