Curriculum
Category: Diaconate Published on Friday, July 29, 2011 Hits: 447
YEAR ONE
September | Orientation : formation process, agents of formation, preparation for Christian Prayer, timetables, expectations of candidates and wives, house rules, home and weekend meeting format, personal journal writing
October | Getting to know Myself : Myers-Briggs personality types, understanding different personalities, leadership styles, collaboration, group facilitation
November | Listening and Emotions: types of listening, types of questions, how to be present, paying attention without intention, counseling skills
December | Introduction to Ministry: called to ministry by virtue of Baptism, lay ministry and ordained ministry, types of ministry
January | Prayer, Spirituality, Discernment, Spiritual Direction : types of prayer, theology of Christian Prayer, Lectio Divina, contemplation, consciousness Examen
February | Conversion : Paul's conversion, Lonergan's conversions, change of heart, purpose of formation
March | Foundational Moral Theology : moral decision making, ethics of deciding, right and wrong decisions
April | Social Justice Issues : Bishops' statements, encyclicals, preferential option for the poor, diaconal ministry
May | Integration : review of the year, maximizing your talent, diaconal gifts, passing the torch, formation stories of mentors
June | Retreat
YEAR TWO
September Ministry to the Sick : beside manners, do's and don'ts, working with staff, the aging process, visiting the hospital and the home, acute care vs. long term, the hospice system, bringing the Eucharist to the hospital or home
October Ministry to the Prison : the prison system, young offenders act, how to visit, deacon's role in visiting, boundary issues
November Revelation & Faith : weightiness of encyclicals, types of encyclicals, hierarchy of the church, symbols
December Grace & Eschatology : what is grace, the end times
January Creation, God & Trinity : order of creation, how do we see God, revelation in the Bible, proofs of God, Jesus in history, work of the Spirit
February Introduction to Old Testament : the Jewish Bible, God reveals Himself, format of the Bible, the Pentateuch, myths and legends
March The Prophets : who were they, how did God speak through them, how we are called to act
April Wisdom & Psalms : format of the Psalms, types of Psalms, origin, meaning of Wisdom literature
May Ecumenism : reformation implications, efforts at reconciliation, differences, married priesthood
June Retreat
YEAR THREE
September Sacraments of Initiation : baptism and confirmation, preparation of parents and children, the RCIA process
October Eucharist : meaning, theology, preparation of children & adults
November Penance & Anointing : role of the deacon in anointing, sacrament of the sick, extreme unction – viaticum, role of the deacon in counseling
December Marriage & Holy Orders : theology, three levels of orders, marriage as covenant, Jesus and Church in covenant
January Introduction to the New Testament : the Synoptics, content, translations, format and literary styles, authors, new materials, origins, audiences
February Luke & Acts : authors, styles, messages, audience
March Gospel of John : who wrote it, to whom was it written, style etc
April Paul & his Writings : travels, audiences, letters
May Homiletics : exegesis, sources, styles, integrated homily, based on life experience, structure, imagination of the heart, mystagogy, proclamation
YEAR FOUR
September History of the Church : the first two thousand years, changes, councils, development, Canadian church, role of Bishops
October Ecclesiology : structure of the church, theology and foundation
November Mariology & the Saints : Mary as mother of the church, veneration, prayers, visions, process of sainthood
December Christology : Jesus as the Messiah, historical perspectives, people as church, church as the body of Christ
January Canon Law of Marriage : interviews, mixed marriages, Form 1
February Canon Law of Marriage: continued, testing for license
March Liturgical Practicums : mass, baptism, confirmation, Easter Rites, benediction, the sacramentary, weddings, funerals, Eucharistic celebrations, way of the cross, role of the deacon
April Sexual, Medical, Moral Issues : end of life issues, euthanasia, abortion,
May 5 day Ordinandi Retreat
June Ordination : Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria