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Vocations

What is a Permanent Deacon?

To be a permanent deacon is to be part of the permanent diaconate. In the “Policy Manual for the Ministry of Permanent Deacons in the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth”, the permanent diaconate is meant to be “a driving force for the Church’s service or diakonia toward the local Christian communities and a sign or sacrament of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.” Because the deacon is a public and “living icon of Christ the Servant within the Church,”3 his ministry encourages all the baptized to commit themselves to service of the ecclesial community and the world.

The diaconate is conferred through the prayer of ordination and the laying on of hands by the Archbishop, “not for the priesthood but for service.” The Diaconate is a distinct permanent order. It is a ministry which enhances the vitality of the church and which sacramentalizes the primacy of service and charity in the Church. The permanent deacon fulfills the three-fold ministry of Word, Liturgy and Charity.

At present there are nine men meeting monthly as aspirants in formation. Before becoming aspirants, they spent a year discerning their call to the diaconate. The next opportunity for men called to the diaconate will be in 2026.

Those interested in the diaconate can contact the Director of Deacons and Deacon Formation, Deacon Robert Doyle at 902-429-9800 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  • * Prayer to Know One's Vocation

    Lord, my God and my loving Father, you have made me to know you,
    to love you, to serve you, and thereby to find and to fulfill myself.
    I know that you are in all things, and that every path can lead me to you.
    But of them all, there is one especially by which you want me to come to you.
    Since I will do what you want of me, I pray you, send your Holy Spirit to me:
    into my mind, to show me what you want of me; into my heart,
    to give me the determination to do it, and to do it with all my love,
    with all my mind, and with all my strength right to the end.

    Amen

  • * Heavenly Father

     

    St. John Vianney 352x600

    Saint John Vianney


    Almighty and Eternal God, You have poured out on your priests the blessing of the Holy Spirit
    as they share in the priesthood of Christ your Son. We praise You for giving this gift to Your Church.

    Through Your priests, Your people are sanctified and invited into the mysteries of Christ. We thank You for their generous service. Grant to your priests the gift of joy in ministry and life.
    Renew them each day in their consecrationfor the salvation of the world.

    Lord, hear our prayers for those You are calling into Your service now.
    Bless them with an openness to Your will and a love for Your holy people.

    May all your priests be renewed in holiness through the example of your servant St. John Vianney.
    Filled with the fire of your love, may they do all for your greater glory.

    We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

    Amen.

  • * Discernment Community Application

    University Chaplains pic lightened

     
    "A place where people gather to freely discern their vocation to holiness and mission."

    Holy Cross Chaplaincy exists to live lifelong community, giving students an experience of relationship that lays deep roots for their whole life long. The Household Program is more than a place to live; it is a way of life meant to form young people into lifelong relationship and fulfilling vocation. It’s the heart of our community and the primary place we live out our “why.” Participants in the household program commit to three ideals:

    1. Deep relationship with God
    2. Healthy community life with each other and the outside community
    3. Vocational discernment

    These three things, lived well, hopefully help to form program participants into activated parish leaders, fulfilled in their vocations.

    Discernment Community Application (fillable PDF)
    email the Application back to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
    www.hcchaplaincy.ca

     

  • * Vocation to the Priesthood

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     “The priesthood is not a career, it is way of being.
    It is a life of sacrifice and service because it is the life of our Lord.“
    Vocations Centre Sydney

     

    • Every Catholic man, at one point in his life should consider a Vocation to the Priesthood, even if he is not intending to become a priest.
    • Many men today, do not have a clear understanding of what a Priest is, and what it means to be a Priest.
    • Being a Priest means devoting yourself to the people of God, to be their Shepherd at all points of their life.
    • Please see the link below to learn more: www.vocationcentre.org.au/home/what-is-a-vocation/priesthood