Policies and Procedures

 Assignment Process

 I.        Assignment:

1. As the primary shepherd who seeks to promote the well – being of all the people of his diocese, the Bishop appoints permanent deacons to diaconal ministry. (PDUS, 115, 116)

2. Faculties to minister in the diocese are granted to a deacon upon his ordination, or, in the case of a deacon who incardinates into a diocese, upon his initial assignment by the Bishop.

3. The Bishop will not make an assignment unless the deacon has an approved Ministerial Agreement.

4. The permanent deacon functions within the diocese of Spokane according to the terms of those faculties granted by the Bishop and appropriate canon law.  A copy of the Faculties granted to deacons in the Diocese of Spokane is included in Appendix B.

5. A permanent deacon is accountable for his ministry to the Bishop through the Director of Deacons and the appropriate pastoral authority.

6. The deacon is bound to observe all pertinent policies and regulations established by Canon Law and responsible authorities of the diocese, parish, institution or agency in which he may exercise his diaconal ministry.

II. Ministerial Agreements:

1.      All active incardinated deacons are required to have an approved Ministerial Agreement prior to assignment

2.     Ministerial Agreements are to be signed by the deacon, deacon’s wife, and pastor/supervisor.  A copy of  the agreement is to be forwarded to the Director of Deacons.  The Director will submit it to the Bishop for approval.

3.     A ministerial agreement may be reviewed at any time at the request of any of the parties.  It must be renewed upon the appointment of a new pastor/supervisor.

4.     Changes in, or termination of, a ministerial agreement must have the approval of the Bishop.

5.     Suggestions for the completion of a Ministerial Agreement and a sample Ministerial Agreement may be found in Appendix c.

6.    The deacon who is under contract to a parish, or other diocesan agency, in a capacity for which he receives compensation, shall clearly distinguish between his deaconate ministry and the services for which he has a contract.

III.  Change of Assignment:

1.    A deacon may request a change of assignment at any time.  In addition, a pastoral authority may request the transfer of an assigned deacon.

2.    A deacon returning to the diocese after an absence of more than six (6) months must formally seek reassignment.

  Procedures:

1.       A deacon requesting a change of assignment must submit a written request to the Director of Deacons.

2.     The Director of Deacons will meet with the deacon requesting an assignment change to discern the reasons and circumstances. 

3.    The Director or Deacons will discuss the case with the Bishop The Bishop may or may not grant approval to proceed with the process.

4.     If the Bishop approves, the Director of Deacons will notify the deacon’s current pastor of the requested change of assignment and discuss the circumstances.

5.       The Director of Deacons will meet with the deacon to discuss options.

6.       The Deacon will interview pastors.

IV.  Leave of Absence:

1.  Leaves of Absence may be granted to a deacon for reasons that may include, but are not limited to, health
     and personal matters.

2.  A deacon seeking such a leave shall submit a written request to the Bishop or the Director of Deacons.  The
     Bishop shall discuss the request with the Director of Deacons.

3.    Leaves may be granted for a designated period depending on the circumstances and are subject to annual review.

V. Suspension:

1.    A deacon may incur the canonical censure of suspension as a result of an administrative or juridical procedure.

VI. Laicization:

1.       A permanent deacon may seek to be laicized in accordance with the precepts of Canons 290-293.

2.       Laicization of a permanent deacon can be effected only by the Holy See.

3.       For just cause, the canonical form, is observed, for the protection of the deacon’s right to due process.

   Procedure:

1.       A deacon seeking laicization shall inform the Bishop in writing, with a copy to the Director of Deacons.

VII. Funeral of a Deacon:

1.     In the event of a deacon’s death, the Bishop and the Director of Deacons should be informed as soon as possible by the family or pastor.

Procedures:

Subject to the approval of the family of the deceased, the following procedures may be followed;

1. The Bishop will normally be the celebrant and homilist of the Funeral Mass.  It is appropriate that he be assisted by deacons.

2. The deceased may be vested in alb and white deacon stole.

3. It is recommended that the diaconal community assemble for a prayer service the night before the funeral and at the Funeral Mass.  

VIII. Retirement and Leave of Absence

Retired deacons, deacons on leave of absence and their wives remain cherished members of the diocesan diaconal community.  They are invited to participate in the affairs of the community and will continue to be informed of the affairs of the community

Retirement or leave of absence from active ministry may be requested by the deacon in writing to the Bishop of the Diocese of Spokane for any of the following reasons:

1.       Age:  A deacon may request retirement at age 65.

2.     Health: A deacon may request retirement or leave of absence for specific health reasons.  “Health” is understood in it’s fullest sense – to include spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical dimensions.

3.       Family Considerations

4.       Personal Circumstances:  These are circumstances that could hinder his ability to minister effectively.

Status of Retired Deacons and Deacons on Leave of Absence

Retired Deacons and Deacons on leave of absence retain their diaconal facilities with the diocese.

Retirement

The retirement of a deacon is the cessation of formally assigned ministry.  No formal assignment will be made after the date of retirement.  However, the deacon may volunteer for, or be requested by the Bishop or the Director of Deacons to perform limited services as appropriate to the Office of Deacon. The retired deacon is not obligated to accept such a request.

Leave of Absence

The granting of a “leave of absence” is the cessation of formal activity in the deacon’s assigned ministry period for a time which may or not be specified.  No formal re-assignment will be made until the conditions that were the basis for granting the leave of absence have changed or been resolved sufficiently for the deacon to again be assigned to active ministry. A deacon on leave of absence may be assigned to limited service during the time of his leave.

Requests

Requests for retirement shall be made in writing to the Bishop of Spokane with copies to the Director of Deacons and the deacon’s pastor.

IX. Transfer of Diocese

The following procedures are to be followed by a deacon transferring into or out of the Diocese of Spokane to another diocese.

1. He shall notify the Director of Deacons of his current Diocese of his intent and his reasons for requesting transfer in writing.

2.  The Director of Deacons shall discuss the requested transfer with his Bishop.  The Director will discuss the requested transfer with the Deacon’s pastor.

3.    Upon receiving approval from the Ordinary the Director of Deacons will notify the Director of the receiving diocese of the requested transfer and will provide an evaluation, recommendation and resume of the transferring deacon.  The resume should include:

a.       Curriculum Vitae

b.       List of ministerial assignments, services, and activities

c.       List of skills and talents

d.       Language skills

e.       Names of Pastor and supervisors with whom the deacon served

f.         Faculties granted

4.    The Ordinary of the current diocese will inform the Ordinary of the receiving diocese of the requested transfer and make appropriate recommendations.

5.     It is the responsibility of the transferring deacon to present himself to the Director of Deacons and the Ordinary of the receiving diocese.

6.     It is the responsibility of the receiving Director of Deacons or his delegate to:

a.       Interview the deacon and his wife

b.       Obtain the necessary documentation and references

c.       Follow the procedures of his diocese

d.       Make recommendations to his Ordinary concerning incardination and granting of faculties.

7.    The deacon remains attached to his current diocese until the incardination/excardination process is completed. 

X. Incardination and Excardination

1.    A transferring deacon must complete a minimum of one year of diaconal ministry in the Diocese of Spokane before application for incardination can be submitted through the Director of Deacons to the Bishop.  The diaconal ministry must be assigned through the Bishop of Spokane.

2.    The transferring deacon must submit a written request for excardination and incardination to the Ordinaries of his current and new dioceses.  When both ordinaries agree, they will enact the excardination and incardination of the deacon according to the norms of canon law. (can.265.272)

XI. Married Life of Deacons

1   A married deacon is expected to give primary attention to the commitments made during the Sacrament of Matrimony.  His first priorities must be to his wife and children.  Commitments to his family must take precedence over his diaconal service.

2   Marital problems that could affect his diaconal service and assignments, should be brought to the attention of the Director of Deacons, the pastor and the Bishop.

3.       The family life of deacons is of great concern to the Bishop and the diaconal community.  Appropriate assistance will be offered to the deacon and his family.

4.       In the event of separation and divorce a deacon must continue to live by his sacramental vows of Matrimony and Holy Orders.

XII. Continuing Formation and Spiritual Growth

1.       Every Deacon is expected to:

a.    Have a spiritual director and meet with them on a regular basis.

b.    Make an annual retreat

c.    Participate in continuing education -classes, seminars or lectures offered by the Deacon Formation Program, Universities, parish study courses

d.    Continue his formation and spiritual growth through spiritual reading, Bible study, retreats, days of prayer etc.

2.  Each deacon must report his progress annually to the Director of Deacons.  Consistent failure to do so can result in being placed on an inactive status.

XIII. Ecclesiastical Dress and forms of address