Seminary Life
Permanent Diaconate Formation
A deacon is ordained as a ‘minister of the Word, of the altar, and of charity’. Here is how we form deacons for ministry at Oscott College.
The word deacon comes from the Greek word ‘diakonos’ meaning servant. Deacons today minister alongside priests, supporting them in the local church. Diaconal ordination leaves a lifelong, irrevocable mark on the ordained man.
Whereas priests celebrate Mass, hear confessions, and anoint the sick, deacons can baptise solemnly, be the official witness at marriages and have a special liturgical role. Unlike priests, deacons can be married and have families. However, if they are unmarried when they are ordained they cannot then be married.
To become a deacon, a man must do a propaedeutic year and then undertake a four-year diaconate study course. As part of this, they come to Oscott for ten weekends of formation a year. Most of what takes place here is their intellectual formation. However, they also receive spiritual formation and pastoral formation here, meeting with a tutor who accompanies them.
The process of becoming a deacon involves growing in prayer, in your knowledge of the faith, in your abilities as a human being, and in your abilities to recognise and help those in need. During the four to five years of formation, candidates try to experience working with people in need such as the homeless and prisoners.
The process of becoming a deacon takes roughly five years but can be longer or shorter in some cases.
If you are interested in becoming a Catholic deacon and would like to make an enquiry, we recommend that you get in touch with the vocations director of your diocese.
Everything that’s coming up, from tours and formation events, to symposiums and times of prayer.
The Oscotian is the Official Annual Publication of St Mary’s College Oscott. Edited by our seminarians, every issue is a time capsule of our year, sharing key stories and reflections from our students and staff.