Candidates for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and their spiritual directors are to follow these directives:
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A spiritual director is
to be chosen from among ordained priests.
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The priest spiritual director
is not to be one's pastor. However, the bishop has granted permission
for parochial vicars to act in this capacity.
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The candidate is to meet
at least once a month with his spiritual director.
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Since spiritual direction
takes place in the internal forum, all are to be reminded that
the relationship of candidates to their spiritual director is
a privileged and confidential one.
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The candidate is to frequent
the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but is not limited to their
spiritual director as a confessor. The goals and objectives
in the spiritual direction of candidates to the Permanent Diaconate
are as follows:
- To develop a sustained prayer life.
- To engage regularly in the Sacraments
of the Church.
- To integrate spiritual formation,
personal growth, and character development in a manner consistent
with ordained ministry.
- To discern openly a vocation to ordained
ministry.
- To discuss the candidate's involvement
in familial matters.
- To speak honestly about one's readiness
for conversion and change.
- To formulate practical ways in which
to maintain a spiritual life demanded by a life of ordained
ministry.
- To allow the candidate to be transparent
in his reflections on ministry, liturgical involvement, catechetical
responsibility, and social justice concerns.
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