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

Candidate Path in Diaconal Formation105prepared and signed by the chancellor of the diocese and officiallysealed. This document is to be kept in the candidate’s personal fileand noted in the diocesan book of ministries and ordinations.The Rite of Ordination to the Diaconate236. An interval of at least six months must elapse between theconferring of the ministry of acolyte and ordination to the diaconate.33 Further, a canonical retreat must precede the ordination. 34It will usually be helpful to wives to participate in the retreat,although during portions of the retreat it will usually be helpful toprovide the opportunity for separate treatment of the respectiveroles of each in the vocation of the husband to the diaconate. Priorto ordination to the diaconate, the ordinand must make theProfession of the Faith in the presence of the bishop or his delegateand must sign it by his own hand. He must take the Oath of Fidelityand make a personal declaration concerning his freedom to receivesacred ordination, as well as his own clear awareness of the obligationsand commitments implied by that ordination. An unmarried candidatemust make a declaration regarding the obligation of sacredcelibacy; this declaration must be written in the candidate’s ownhandwriting and expressed in his own words. All of these documentsare to be carefully preserved in the candidate’s personal file. 35Six-month intervalbetween installationand ordination237. It is preferable to celebrate the ordination in the cathedralchurch on a Sunday or feast day, according to the rite of The RomanPontifical, inviting the diocesan Church’s full participation. “Duringthe rite special attention should be given to the participation of thewives and children of the married ordinands.” 36238. After the ordination, a certificate should be prepared containingthe date, place, and name of the ordaining prelate. It shouldbe signed and sealed by the chancellor. This information also shouldbe recorded in the diocesan book of ministries and ordinations. Thecertificate, together with the letter of petition and the bishop’s letterof call to ordination, should be enclosed in the newly ordained’s personaland permanent file. This file should be transferred as soonafter the ordination as is convenient from the formation office to apermanent location among the curia records in the diocesanchancery. The director of formation or someone designated by thebishop should also notify the church in which the newly ordainedCuria andparish records