National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent ...

88Chapter 5a. Regular celebration of the Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, andthe Sacrament of Reconciliationb. Time scheduled for private prayer, meditation, and lectio divinac. Devotions to the Virgin Mary and saintsd. Conferences and workshops on the meaning of authentic obedience,celibacy, and simplicity of lifee. Conferences on a Christian witness in both matrimonial andcelibate life to the Church and worldf. An understanding and appreciation of the diaconal vocation,with an ability to articulate this call through the primary ministriesof word, liturgy, and charityg. An introduction and experience of the spiritual writings of ourCatholic traditionSpiritual directionParish and pastorAcademic objectivesand content194. The aspirant’s spiritual director is critical to the formationprocess. This priest, who is to be approved by the bishop, must bewell trained and knowledgeable about the diaconate. The spiritualdirector accompanies, supports, and challenges the aspirant in hisongoing conversion. The spiritual director assists the aspirant in hisrelationship with God and his understanding that it is Christ who“calls,” the Church that affirms his diaconal vocation, and the bishopwho responds to that affirmation by the imposition of hands.195. As collaborators in discerning the readiness of the aspirant tomove into candidate formation, the parish and its pastor also shouldaccompany the aspirant and his family through their prayers, support,and presence. In the aspirant path in formation, the parish is the primaryplace to observe the aspirant’s relational skills and his practicein pastoral service. The pastor, therefore, is to provide an assessmentof the aspirant and his family. This assessment will further enable theformation staff to support and challenge the aspirant’s discernment ofhis readiness to move into candidate formation.Intellectual Dimension196. The objectives and content for intellectual formation at theaspirant level should communicate a deeper knowledge of the faithand church tradition than the aspirant has already attained. Itwould be appropriate to promote an in-depth and systematic studyof the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and to introduce the traditionsof Catholic philosophy, spirituality, and doctrine, especially the