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Pastor’s Nomination Form

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Pastor’s Nomination Form
Permanent Diaconate
Deacon Formation Program

A “Pastor’s Nomination Form” is a form that a parish priest (pastor) fills out to formally recommend a man in good standing in the parish to be considered for the Permanent Diaconate formation program.

It’s essentially a recommendation and endorsement by the applicant’s pastor. “Pastors Nomination Form” as part of their deacon formation process.

The form is used to confirm that the applicant is known to the parish, active in parish life, and considered suitable by the pastor to move ahead for further discernment and application. It formalizes the relationship between the parish, the candidate, and the diocesan formation office: the pastor vouches for him, which triggers or enables the next steps in the diocesan formation process.

Pastors Nomination Form

Inquirer’s name
Address
Parish Address

Directions

• Submitting the Pastor’s Nomination Form on behalf of an inquirer will start the application process to the Deacon Formation Program.
• You may nominate more than one parishioner.
• Please answer the factual questions by interviewing the inquirer. It’s important that the information is complete and accurate.
• All information you provide is understood to be from the external forum and not from any internal forum relationship. If you are unable to interview the inquirer because of any information from the internal forum, notify the Deacon Formation Program.
• Note that you will be asked to submit a more detailed assessment of the inquirer during the application process.
• Note that you will be asked to submit a more detailed assessment of the inquirer during the application process.
• Please summit this form is due by: Monday, April 3rd to: Diaconate Formation Program, San Francisco Archdiocese, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109

General Information

Is the inquirer a registered member of the parish?
2. Does the inquirer reside within the parish boundaries?

INQUIRER REQUISITES

INQUIRER REQUISITES

Please choose the appropriate responses.

Page Title

Maturity and Faith Development

6. The Church will only promote to Sacred Orders men who have sound faith, are motivated by right intention, are endowed with the requisite knowledge, enjoy a good reputation, who have moral probity, proven virtue, and physical and psychological qualities appropriate for ordained ministry (cf. CIC 1029). To the best of your knowledge, does the inquirer possess these qualities?
7. An applicant for the diaconate must be able to demonstrate human and evangelical virtues necessary for ministry. Spirituality of service implies a person’s ability to offer a selfless contribution to the mission of the Church (cf. Basic Norms 32). To the best of your knowledge, does the inquirer possess these qualities?
8. An applicant for the diaconate must be an active member of the Catholic community as a leader and motivator of ministry. It is presumed that the applicant will enjoy a good reputation among the faithful and be seen as a man of faith and prayer (cf. Basic Norms 33). To the best of your knowledge, does the inquirer enjoy a good reputation?
9. To the best of your knowledge, is the inquirer properly motivated, and does he give evidence of overall personal balance and moral character?
10. To the best of your knowledge, does the inquirer participate in adult faith enrichment opportunities (e.g., retreats, days of reflection, spiritual direction, study of Scripture and Church teachings)?
11. To the best of your knowledge, is the inquirer loyal to the teachings of the Church, the sacred liturgy, Tradition and Scripture, and has he cultivated a spirituality of service desirable in the clergy?

Page Title

Proper Standing and Stability

12. The Archdiocese of San Francisco requires at the time of the application that the applicant has obtained, at least, an undergraduate degree from an institution of higher learning (e.g., Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science). Does the inquirer meet this standard?
13. Based on the minimum age established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for ordination to the permanent diaconate and the length of the diocesan program, an inquirer must be at least 30 years of age to be nominated for the program. Is the Inquirer 30 years of age or older?
14. Based on the maximum age established by The Archdiocese of San Francisco for ordination to the permanent diaconate and the length of the diocesan program, an inquirer must be no more than 59 years old to be nominated for the program. Is the inquirer 59 years of age or younger?
15. Three years should elapse between an inquirer’s initiation into the Church or a returning Catholic’s reconciliation with the Church before his nomination to the Deacon Formation Program can be reviewed. Care must be also given to someone in whom a sudden conversion experience seems to precipitate a diaconal vocation. Has the inquirer been a practicing Catholic for at least three years?
16. Men considering the diaconate also need to discern whether they are ready to respond to the call at this particular point in their lives. Inquirers may have many commitments to family, career, employment, community, and Church service, and these commitments should never be compromised. To the best of your knowledge, do you believe the inquirer is ready for commitment to the diaconal formation?

Page Title

Married

17. A married man cannot be considered to the permanent diaconate without the consent of his wife and consultation with his family. Has the inquirer discussed his interest in the diaconate with his wife and members of his immediate family?
18. The application process requires signed consent by the wife and a visitation to the family home. Do you believe the inquirer’s wife will consent to her husband’s participation in the program?
19. An applicant who is married should live out this vocation for at least three years prior to requesting admittance to the formation program. Has the inquirer been married at least three years?

Page Title

Single

20. An applicant who is not married should be able to demonstrate a stable and mature life of chastity and understand the gift of celibacy. His lifestyle shall not be in contradiction to the Catholic faith and the moral teachings of the Church. To the best of your knowledge, has the inquirer demonstrated a chaste and celibate lifestyle?

Page Title

Previous Marriage/Nullity Decree

21. An applicant who was in a marriage that ended in divorce and a nullity decree should be screened carefully to ascertain if and how previous obstacles to a marriage commitment might affect his viability as a candidate for the diaconate. An extended period of time should elapse before an inquirer is nominated to the Deacon Formation Program. To the best of your knowledge, has the inquirer lived a stable, chaste lifestyle since the divorce and nullity decree?

Page Title

Widower

22. At least two years should elapse before a widower is nominated to the Deacon Formation Program. An applicant will need to demonstrate his understanding of chastity and celibacy if he is to pursue the diaconate. To the best of your knowledge, has the inquirer lived a stable, chaste lifestyle since losing his wife?

How would you characterize the applicant’s interaction:

Pastor's Name
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Diaconate Formation Program
San Francisco Archdiocese
One Peter Yorke Way
San Francisco, CA 94109
Attention: Deacon Fred Totah, Director