Diaconate Program suspends accepting new candidates

Men in formation will be ordained through 2015.

March 18, 2011, WORCESTER, MA – Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester, has announced that the Diaconate program will suspend accepting new candidates into its formation program. This will allow the Diocese of Worcester to evaluate long-term pastoral needs which can be filled by future candidates, as well as to assure that the formation program is appropriate for those future assignments. It also will allow parishes to assess how they are using their deacons today and what immediate needs can be met with the additional deacons to be ordained over the next 5 years. Currently, 32 men are enrolled in various stages of the diaconate formation program, which is conducted within the diocese.

            According to recent statistics provided to the Official Catholic Directory, there are a total of 101 deacons incardinated in the Diocese of Worcester, including 14 who are retired and 6 who serve in assignments outside the diocese. Currently, there are 108 parishes and 4 missions served by 129 diocesan priests and 6 religious order priests.

            Deacon Anthony Surozenski, director of the Office of the Diaconate, suggested the review of the program to Bishop McManus. He noted “We don’t know what the diocese is going to look like and what the future needs are going to be. Some parishes have closed, some are merging, others are evolving. We need to take a look at the overall picture for diaconal ministry.”

            The Diaconate office is assisted by a Diaconate Advisory Board consisting of deacons and their wives and area parish priests and lay people as well as retired auxiliary bishop, Most Rev. George E. Rueger.