Deacon candidates receive temporary assignments

Friday, Oct. 16, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — The 16 members of the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s permanent deacon formation class  have entered their Candidate Practicum period, for which they have been temporarily assigned to serve in parishes other than their own.

The temporary assignments, which began this month, will last for about eight months. The men, who are all Spanish-speaking, began the formation class two years ago and are scheduled to be ordained in 2017.

“This past year we wanted them to have opportunities to become more familiar with certain situations: For example, how to set up for a baptism,” or how to assist a priest,  said Deacon Drew Petersen, who oversees the diocese’s Permanent Deacon Program. “That is the level of practical experience that we wanted them to have.”

The temporary assignments are intended to help the men become acclimated to parishes other than their own, and to gain practical experience, Deacon Petersen said. “They, most likely, will be changing parishes throughout the term of their diaconate … so they are now assigned to parishes where there will be a new experience for them.” 

As permanent deacons, the men  will  minister where the bishop assigns them, assisting the pastors in ministering to the parishioners, so “they  have to know and learn how to adapt to a different environment,” said Deacon Petersen.

The pastors of the parishes receiving the candidates have been asked to help them become more acquainted with the various sacraments that they would be administrating when they become permanent deacons, Deacon Petersen said.

Among the ministries that permanent deacons are called to are counselling a person pastorally, celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism and officiating at funerals and marriages, as long as  the pastor has delegated this authority.

The assignments to the temporary parishes came after an assessment that the diaconal candidates are constantly going through.

“What we try to do is to assign them to parishes where we think they are going to have the best opportunity to grow additionally in their ministry,” said Deacon Petersen, who also  considered  the input of the pastors  of the things that they thought the candidates were still lacking.

“Most of the candidates are really excited about their new temporary assignments. It is a good learning experience, having gone through it by myself,” said Deacon Petersen.

The next step in the permanent deacon formation program is the Rite of Institution as Acolytes which is scheduled for Feb. 27. It is the final big step before their ordination, which is scheduled for  Jan. 27, 2017.

The deacon candidates and the parishes to which they have been assigned follow. 

 

Our Lady of Lourdes, Magna

Saint Marguerite

San Andres/St. Patrick/San Isidro

Saint  Andrew

Christ The King

Saint Francis of Asíssi

Sts. Peter and Paul

Saint Elizabeth

Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Peter

Saint Mary

Saint Rose of Lima

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

St. Joseph-Ogden