Applying to the Diaconate

The Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Fresno began in 1998 and has expanded with six classes of deacons having been ordained as of October 2023. It takes 5 ½ years to properly form a deacon in our diocese – 2 years of Lay Formation, two years of Aspirancy, and 3 ½ years of Diaconate Formation. The total amount of time is 5 ½ years because the two years of Lay Formation and the two years of Aspirancy are offered concurrently.

Lay Formation classes are offered by the Office of Formation and Evangelization; Diaconate Formation classes are offered by the Office of the Permanent Diaconate. Please contact the Office of Formation and Evangelization for more information at (559) 488-7474.

Diaconate Formation classes are only offered in English. Men must be at least 32 years of age and not more than 58 years of age when they start the Lay Formation/Aspirancy Year. Also, if married, you must be married five or more years within the Catholic Church.

We start classes once every three years. The next cycle of applications goes from January through May 2023. The class will be called Diaconate Formation Class #8. The Preliminary Leadership Application is the common application for both Lay Formation Institute (LFI) and Diaconate Formation Program.

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 Office of the Permanent Diaconate. Email Deacon Mark Schultz, at [email protected], or Deacon Michael Madrigal at [email protected].

Once you have decided that you are ready to apply for admission to the Permanent Diaconate Formation, please apply online by clicking the following link to the Preliminary Application: Preliminary Leadership Application (jotfor.ms)

This application has a Save and Continue Later option so that you may complete at your pace. Once you complete the application, you will receive an email with the next steps of the process based on your answers to the Preliminary Leadership Application.

For additional general information on the Permanent Diaconate, please click on the following link at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/diaconate/read-more-about-it

Yours in Christ,
Director of the Permanent Diaconate
Diocese of Fresno