Through the Church, Christ calls some to ordained service through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  Formation for ordination to a diaconal vocation is an intense process consisting of five (5) years, followed by a life-long commitment to continued personal formation and growth.  Throughout the process, many people are involved in the discernment of an individual’s spiritual maturity, academic readiness, and the pastoral ability for ordination.  At any time during this process, a man may personally elect either to defer or to discontinue his pursuit of the diaconate.  Alternatively, the Archdiocese of San Francisco may, at its option, determine an applicant, aspirant or candidate is not sufficiently suited to continue toward ordination.

Important steps in the process of inquiry and formation are aspirancy, candidacy, ordination and continued formation.  Within each of these steps, the process will address four (4) specific areas:  the human dimension, the spiritual dimension, the intellectual dimension and the pastoral dimension.

It is anticipated that most applicants admitted to the aspirancy year will be married.  Wives will be required to attend all classes, days of prayer, an annual retreat and other events.  Participation is required in order to ensure spouses have ample opportunity to ask questions and to gain a clear understanding of the diaconate in order to provide an informed consent for their husband’s continued participation.

Interested individuals who consider applying to the deacon formation program should attend an information session held in various locations just prior to an open application period.  The applicant must first receive his pastor’s recommendation.  The applicant will then receive an application packet directly from the Diaconate Formation Office.  Applicants will be interviewed.  Selected applicants will be recommended to the Archbishop for acceptance into the aspirancy year of the formation program.