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

Organization, Structure, and Personnel for Diaconal Formation135appropriate links to other diocesan entities to ensure a collaborativeand integrative approach to the understanding and use of deaconsand diaconal ministry throughout the diocese.NORMS1. The diocesan bishop is the one ultimately responsible for thediscernment and formation of aspirants and candidates, as wellas the pastoral care of deacons. He exercises his responsibilitypersonally, as well as through his director of diaconal formationand the director of deacon personnel whom he has appointedand who are responsible directly to him or, in his absence, to apriest whom he has appointed as his delegate. (267)2. The director of formation, who must be either a priest or a deacon,is appointed by the diocesan bishop to be head of the diaconateoffice. He is directly responsible to the bishop. (272)3. The bishop may set up a formation policy board to assist him andthe director of formation in matters of diaconal formation. (283)4. The director of spiritual formation, who must be a priest, isnominated by the director of formation. He is approved andappointed by the bishop. He personally oversees the spiritualformation of each participant and provides an orientation toother spiritual directors, who must also be priests and who maybe chosen by the aspirants or candidates with the approval ofthe bishop. (274)5. The coordinator for pastoral formation, who corresponds to“the pastor (or other minister)” required by the Basic Norms forthe Formation of Permanent Deacons of the Congregation forCatholic Education, is nominated by the director of formation. 25He is approved and appointed by the bishop. (276)6. Faculty members are nominated by the director of formationand then approved and appointed by the bishop. (278)7. Mentors for aspirants and candidates, who are to be knowledgeableand competent to assist the director of formation, are nominatedfrom among priests and deacons by the director of formation.They also are approved and appointed by the bishop.Mentors are charged with closely following the formation ofthose committed to their care, offering support and encouragement.(281)