by Deacon Leon Suprenant
Twenty years ago, the archdiocese began accepting applications for our first deacon cohort. We’ve come a long way since then.
This month, we are welcoming our sixth deacon cohort. A deacon “cohort” is a group of men formally responding to a possible vocation to the permanent diaconate. They undergo several years of formation as they, their families and the church discern God’s call in their lives.
Along the way, the cohort tends to develop into a close brotherhood, which is beautiful to experience.
Cohort 6 is a group of 10 married men from diverse cultures, backgrounds and stages of life. They will be joined by four men from the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, who will also be receiving their formation from us.
These men are entering “aspirancy,” which is the first stage of diaconal formation. This initial two-year stage is a period of intense discernment, with a particular emphasis on their human and spiritual formation.
They will join the 13 men in cohort 5, which is already well on its way toward prospective ordination in 2028. The men in cohort 5 have passed from “aspirancy” to “candidacy.”
This year, the candidates in cohort 5 will serve an internship in prison ministry, while receiving further spiritual, liturgical and theological formation.
Please pray for all our aspirants and candidates!
Twenty years ago, aside from men who were “transitional” deacons (i.e., on the way to priesthood), we didn’t have deacons serving in the archdiocese, nor did we have a program in place for forming men for the “permanent” diaconate.
Thanks to the leadership of Archbishops Keleher and Naumann, and above all by the grace of God, we now have 74 deacons serving in the archdiocese, and two additional deacons serving outside the archdiocese.
At last count, our deacons are serving at 51 of our parishes in the archdiocese. And yet, as significant as their parish service is, it only scratches the surface of the impact our deacons are making in our local communities.
Our deacons are agents of charity and mercy, especially among populations “on the margins.” We have many deacons serving the materially and spiritually poor throughout the archdiocese in ministries to the imprisoned, forgotten, ostracized, sick and dying.
Our deacons are also by nature synodal, or “communion organizers,” as we seek to build as many bridges as we can within the family of God.
In short, through their humble service at the altar and in the community, deacons are icons — or embodiments — of Christ the Servant, inviting all the faithful to lives of charity and communion.
