About the Permanent Diaconate Office 

The Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Fresno began in 1998 and has expanded with four classes of deacons having been ordained so far. It takes 5 ½ years to properly form a deacon in our diocese – 2 years of Lay Formation and 3 ½ years of Diaconate Formation. In the journey to the permanent diaconate, an Aspirancy year is required. It is a time of intense and prayerful discernment of a vocation to the diaconate. According to our new model, the Aspirancy Year is done concurrently with the second year of Lay Formation.

Lay Formation classes are offered by the Office of Formation and Evangelization; Diaconate Formation classes are offered by the Diaconate Office. Lay Formation classes are offered in several locations throughout the Diocese. Please contact the Office of Formation and Evangelization for more information at (559) 488-7474. Men who have previously completed the New Wine Program/Vino Nuevo Programs, and who are interested in entering the Diaconate Formation Program should contact the Diaconate Office. Diaconate Formation is only offered in English at this time. Men must be at least 35 years of age on ordination day and must not exceed 59 years of age when they start the Aspirancy Year.

If you sense that God is calling you to be a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Fresno, your first step is to contact your pastor. With his affirmation, you may contact us at the Pastoral Center, in Fresno, at (559) 493-2840. Prior to receiving an application, you and your wife (if married), will need to meet with myself and Deacon Daniel for an initial interview. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You may call outside these hours and leave a message. We will return your call during those two days. You may also email me at [email protected], or the Assistant Director of Formation, Deacon Daniel Sandoval, at [email protected]. For additional general information on the Permanent Diaconate, in general, please click on the following link:
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/diaconate/

Yours in Christ,

Deacon John Sousa, Director of the Permanent Diaconate