My Brothers,

As you are approaching the end of your pre-ordination formation, now is a time to reflect on your experiences of the past several years. As we all know, the call to a vocation to the Permanent Diaconate is something that is taken very seriously both by you, your family and the Church. 

As part of your ongoing discernment, I would like you to take some time in the next few weeks and give some serious thought to where you are in this process. In five pages or less, I would like you to write a reflection taking into consideration the following areas of interest:

• How would you describe your initial call to this vocation
• How has your perception of that call developed in the past five years
• Describe your formation experience
• How have you changed/grown since you began formation
  • Spiritually
  • Intellectually
  • Emotionally
• How much of this is from the actual formation program as compared to your own efforts at enrichment and grown
• How has your family reacted/adjusted to these changes
• Describe in personal terms what it means to be a deacon
• Who is the deacon in the Catholic Church
• Where do you see yourself serving the church
  • How will ordination impact this
• What is the view of your pastor and parish regarding your ordination and ministry
  • How has this changed during your formation
• In what areas do you feel you require additional formation/assistance

Please submit your reflection electronically to my office no later than September 1, 2008.

Know that you in my prayers,

Deacon Dennis Dorner