Fourteen men from seven states completed a two-week Deacon Formation Program at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius at the end of June. Seminary faculty presented brief courses, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and divine praises with the men, and socialized with them at meals each day.
The students, in their forties and fifties, come from various professional backgrounds--from mail carrier to lumber salesman to cross-bow maker. The men are preparing for ordination in three eparchies of the Ruthenian Church in the United States (Pittsburgh, Parma, and Van Nuys) and the Ukrainian Eparchy of St. Nicholas (Chicago).
This year’s program was the second in a four-year cycle of courses preparing the men for diaconate ordination. After each year’s two-week segment at the seminary, students continue with readings and papers during the rest of the year. This year, the courses focused on the Divine Liturgy, the Trinity, moral theology, canon law, Old Testament, synoptic gospels, and pastoral leadership.
At the end of the two-weeks---filled with classes from nine o’clock in the morning until after nine o’clock in the evening--the men were tired but enthusiastic. Mike George rated the faculty as “very professional and true experts in their fields.” “The classes are giving me a much wider view of our faith tradition,” Robert Cripps said.
With liturgical prayer almost every morning and afternoon, the program kept theological study and spiritual experience close together. “Having liturgy classes with Father David Petras and then immediately experiencing what we learned in daily services is a very revealing experience,” Tim Woods reported.
The intensive program creates the opportunity for a community to develop--and it does. “This is a great group of men,” Tom Klacik said. “The backgrounds of the men vary greatly, as well as the education levels, but that is one of the group’s strong points. Everyone helps everyone.”
Dan Perich marveled at the quality of relationships among the participants. “Never before have I been involved with a group of men who shared a common goal and bonded so quickly. Even though there is such a diverse array of personalities, we all became immediate ‘best friends in Christ.’”
The highlight of the program, Steve Vrabel said simply, is “the other men.”
Combining two weeks at the seminary each in June with reading and writing during the rest of the year, the program involves a considerable investment of time. How well does this work for men with families, careers, and parish commitments?
“My family has been supportive every day,” Mike Meaders reported. “It is somewhat difficult balancing the needs of family, work, and study. It is stressful, but I feel the experience has been rewarding spiritually.”
“The classes and associated work at home have caused me to really focus on my spiritual and prayer life as well as learning to adjust priorities and better classify wants and needs,” Michael Melnick said.
Despite the challenge, all of the men who took part in the first two-week program at the seminary last year returned this June. They are scheduled to return next June and June 2010.
At the end of this year’s program, Mike George remarked, “I find myself praying for the class, that we all can make it all the way to ordination.”
Kevin Perrotta
Eparchy of Parma
More photos can be seen at www.byzcathsem.org/news/deaconphotos08.php |
