Welcome Ordained Deacons

We have a lot of educational opportunities for you! Get to know why we continue formation in our policy below, or skip down to find links for how to start.

Continuing Education: Why We Do It

The permanent deacon’s primary vocation to holiness, to be realized in his specific state and mission, demands that he be open to and actively engaged in both spiritual and educational programs designed to further his continued formation and effectiveness.

This commitment relies not only upon a permanent deacon’s willingness to continue his growth, but also to demonstrate it through personal accountability. It is a commitment based upon self-motivation and self-direction, which enhances each permanent deacon’s ministry to the community to which he is called to serve. It is through study, reading, and especially prayer that deacons deepen their own Catholic faith, enrich their ministry, and encourage others by their example to grow in their discipleship of Jesus.

The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States requires that each diocese establish a minimum number of continuing education hours to be completed and reported annually by all active deacons. This does not include, but is in addition to, the requisite annual deacon retreat (Directory, 254).

The scope and nature of instruction should encompass the four (4) general dimensions of a deacon’s ministry: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral. The continuous updating of these dimensions is necessary in order to maintain the deacon’s ability to properly minister to the people of God in both Sacrament and charity. The application is to both present and future ministry (Directory 245-249).

Download: Continuing Education Policy (PDF)

Josephinum Distance Learning Program for the Diaconate

Since 1888, the Josephinum has continued the vision of its founder, Msgr. Joseph Jessing, by preparing clergy for the new evangelization and to serve the pastoral needs of the Church. In fidelity to that vision, the Josephinum now provides educational resources through distance-learning and other technology-based media, delivering continuing education programs to priests and deacons throughout North America.

Visit the Josephinum Distance Learning for the Diaconate website

The Institute of Catholic Theology

The Institute was established to further enhance the intellectual formation of adult Catholics in the Diocese of Phoenix. The Institute offers classes in Catholic theology on a broad range of topics and is geared toward theological education at the undergraduate level. All adults are invited to attend, most especially, catechists, youth ministers, and Catholic school teachers.

Visit The Institute of Catholic Theology Website

Kino Catechetical Institute

Kino Institute, a department of the Division of Education and Evangelization, Diocese of Phoenix, provides foundational formation in Catholic doctrine, strengthening the laity to respond to the call of Christ to discipleship in the Spirit of the New Evangelization. Kino Institute fulfills this mission through:

  • Providing catechetical formation
  • Deepening the human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral formation for service.
  • Embracing, celebrating and serving cultural diversity for effective proclamation of the Gospel.

Forming participants to bear prophetic witness to our faith through lives of fidelity, charity, justice and stewardship.

Visit the Kino Catechetical Institute Website

Liturgical Institute Online

The Liturgical Institute was established in the year 2000 by His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, in order to prepare Catholics for a “new era in liturgical renewal.” It serves a diverse international student population of laity, religious and clergy. Monsignor M. Francis Mannion served as its founding Director, and established the sacramental foundation for the program that it enjoys today. The Liturgical Institute prepares its students in a context of prayer and scholarship with the Church’s future priests, deacons, pastors and ministers to bring solid theological knowledge, critical reasoning and practical skills to bear on the challenges opened by the exciting phase of liturgical renewal emerging in recent years.

Visit The Liturgical Institute Website