Read theological reflections, spiritual insights, and pastoral commentaries on the permanent diaconate to deepen understanding, prayer, and ministry. Diaconal Ministries Outreach DIACONAL EVALUATION Diaconal Ministries advances its mission through a variety of outreach efforts that nurture the interior life and strengthen the Church’s servant-mission. Its retreats offer deacons, candidates, and the faithful opportunities for prayerful renewal, drawing them into deeper communion with Christ the Servant. Convocations provide larger gatherings for ongoing formation, fraternity, and reflection on the diaconal vocation within the life of the Church. Through accessible webinars, participants receive theological, spiritual, and pastoral enrichment in a format that reaches widely and supports diocesan formation needs. The ministry’s podcasts extend this formation even further, offering reflections and teaching grounded in diaconal spirituality to accompany listeners in their daily lives. Finally, regional conferences foster broader collaboration among dioceses, uniting deacons and formators in shared learning and strengthening the ecclesial understanding of diakonia . Together, these outreach efforts help form hearts rooted in Christ, so that service may flow as a genuine expression of the Gospel.

Support Diaconal Ministries and help extend the mission of Christ the Servant. Your gift—large or small—sustains formation, resources, and spiritual renewal for deacons. Extend Your Diaconate by Supporting Diaconal Ministries Your diaconal ministry can continue to shape and strengthen future generations by supporting the formation and spiritual renewal that sustain the Church’s servant-mission Every deacon knows the quiet joy of entrusting his life to Christ the Servant. We receive His love at the altar and pour it out in service, yet the diaconate is larger than any one of us. It is a gift to the Church, a living sign of Christ’s descent into the world’s poverty. What Your Contribution Does Diaconal Ministries supports this mission through formation, resources, retreats, pastoral guidance, and spiritual enrichment. To strengthen the diaconate for future generations, we now introduce an appeal to develop an AI-enhanced assessment tool that will help dioceses form deacons according to the mind of the Church. If Diaconal Ministries has enriched your ministry or strengthened your interior life, consider supporting this mission so it may continue to bless others. Together, we can help the diaconate bear lasting fruit. Discover How You Can Extend Your Diaconate Click Here

Privacy Policy A legal disclaimer The explanations and information provided on this page are only general and high-level explanations and information on how to write your own document of a Privacy Policy. You should not rely on this article as legal advice or as recommendations regarding what you should actually do, because we cannot know in advance what are the specific privacy policies you wish to establish between your business and your customers and visitors. We recommend that you seek legal advice to help you understand and to assist you in the creation of your own Privacy Policy. Privacy Policy - the basics Having said that, a privacy policy is a statement that discloses some or all of the ways a website collects, uses, discloses, processes, and manages the data of its visitors and customers. It usually also includes a statement regarding the website’s commitment to protecting its visitors’ or customers’ privacy, and an explanation about the different mechanisms the website is implementing in order to protect privacy. Different jurisdictions have different legal obligations of what must be included in a Privacy Policy. You are responsible to make sure you are following the relevant legislation to your activities and location. What to include in the Privacy Policy Generally speaking, a Privacy Policy often addresses these types of issues: the types of information the website is collecting and the manner in which it collects the data; an explanation about why is the website collecting these types of information; what are the website’s practices on sharing the information with third parties; ways in which your visitors and customers can exercise their rights according to the relevant privacy legislation; the specific practices regarding minors’ data collection; and much, much more. To learn more about this, check out our article “Creating a Privacy Policy ”.

Terms & Conditions A legal disclaimer The explanations and information provided on this page are only general and high-level explanations and information on how to write your own document of Terms & Conditions. You should not rely on this article as legal advice or as recommendations regarding what you should actually do, because we cannot know in advance what are the specific terms you wish to establish between your business and your customers and visitors. We recommend that you seek legal advice to help you understand and to assist you in the creation of your own Terms & Conditions. Terms & Conditions - the basics Having said that, Terms and Conditions (“T&C”) are a set of legally binding terms defined by you, as the owner of this website. The T&C set forth the legal boundaries governing the activities of the website visitors, or your customers, while they visit or engage with this website. The T&C are meant to establish the legal relationship between the site visitors and you as the website owner. T&C should be defined according to the specific needs and nature of each website. For example, a website offering products to customers in e-commerce transactions requires T&C that are different from the T&C of a website only providing information (like a blog, a landing page, and so on). T&C provide you as the website owner the ability to protect yourself from potential legal exposure, but this may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, so make sure to receive local legal advice if you are trying to protect yourself from legal exposure. What to include in the T&C document Generally speaking, T&C often address these types of issues: Who is allowed to use the website; the possible payment methods; a declaration that the website owner may change his or her offering in the future; the types of warranties the website owner gives his or her customers; a reference to issues of intellectual property or copyrights, where relevant; the website owner’s right to suspend or cancel a member’s account; and much, much more. To learn more about this, check out our article “Creating a Terms and Conditions Policy ”.

Listen to podcasts exploring diaconal spirituality, theological themes, pastoral ministry, and the life of Christ the Servant as lived through the permanent diaconate. Diaconal Ministries Podcasts Living the Servant Mysteries Living the Servant Mysteries is a richly crafted podcast in which Deacon Dominic Cerrato invites listeners to enter more deeply into the heart of diaconal spirituality through clear, prayerful, and theologically grounded reflections. Drawing from his written reflections and decades of pastoral experience, each episode explores one dimension of the Servant Mysteries, illuminating how Christ the Servant continues to transform the Church through lives shaped by grace, self-gift grace, self-gift and communion. Presented in both audio and video formats, the podcast offers a contemplative yet accessible path for deacons, clergy, and laity alike to discover how the interior life fuels authentic Christian service. Launching in March 2026, Living the Servant Mysteries provides a formative and spiritually nourishing companion for anyone seeking to grow in intimacy with Christ and to embody His love through a life poured out for others.

Access information on convocations and clergy gatherings that foster unity, theological depth, and pastoral collaboration among deacons and priests. Diaconal Ministries Convocations Diaconal convocations are uniquely graced moments in the life of the Church, gathering deacons not simply for professional development but for a profound renewal of their vocation as icons of Christ the Servant. Unlike general ministerial conferences, these convocations speak directly to the ontological identity of the deacon and the distinctive grace he bears through Holy Orders. They foster fraternity among those configured to service, providing space for prayer, theological reflection, and honest engagement with the joys and challenges of diaconal life. Grounded in the Servant Mysteries and the Church’s magisterial teaching, diaconal convocations invite deacons to return to the wellspring of their interior life, strengthening their relationship with Christ so that their service to the People of God flows with greater authenticity, compassion, and spiritual depth. Learn More

Request a retreat, conference, workshop, or parish event from Diaconal Ministries and bring Christ-centered formation and spiritual renewal to your local community.

The Fraternity of Christ the Servant is a proposed private association of the Christian faithful offering spiritual and fraternal support to permanent deacons seeking a deeper integration of prayer, fraternity, and diaconal ministry. Rooted in Christ the Servant and grounded in Eucharistic and Marian devotion, the Fraternity is currently in a phase of prayerful discernment. Fraternity of Christ the Servant The Fraternity of Christ the Servant (FCS) is a proposed private association of the Christian faithful envisioned as a fraternal and spiritual support for permanent deacons. Its purpose is to foster a more intentional integration of the deacon’s interior life and exterior ministry through prayer, fraternity, and xxxx shared spiritual discipline. The Fraternity is not conceived as a program, movement, or alternative structure, but as a communion of deacons seeking to deepen their configuration to Christ the Servant within the life of the Church. A Fraternity for Deacons The permanent diaconate places unique spiritual and pastoral demands on those ordained to it, particularly as deacons seek to balance family life, secular employment, and ecclesial ministry. While diocesan structures provide formation and oversight, many deacons express a desire for deeper fraternity and a more sustained rhythm of prayer that supports lifelong vocational fidelity. This proposed Fraternity emerges from that need, offering a context of mutual encouragement, shared discernment, and spiritual renewal that strengthens, rather than supplants, diocesan life. Christ the Servant at Its Center At the heart of the Fraternity is a Christological vision rooted in the mystery of Christ who came not to be served but to serve. The deacon, sacramentally configured to Christ the Servant, is called to live a life of self-gift that flows from communion with the Lord. This Fraternity seeks to keep that identity continually before its members, ensuring that diaconal service remains before its members, ensuring that diaconal service remains grounded in contemplation and not reduced to function or task. Eucharistic and Marian at its Foundation The spiritual life of the proposed Fraternity is anchored in Eucharistic devotion and Marian spirituality. The Eucharist is understood as the source and summit of the deacon’s life, the wellspring from which authentic service flows. Regular Eucharistic adoration fosters attentiveness to the presence of Christ in both sacrament and neighbor. Marian devotion, under the patronage of Maria, Mater Diaconati , invites deacons to contemplate Mary as the model of receptive obedience, humble service, and faithful accompaniment to Christ’s mission. A Shared Rule of Life Though living dispersed, the Fraternity envisions a shared Rule of Life that provides a simple but intentional spiritual rhythm for deacons living in diverse circumstances. This rule emphasizes daily prayer, sacramental life, spiritual direction, and regular fraternal gathering. It is not intended to impose burdens or uniformity, but to offer a common framework that integrates the deacon’s interior life with his pastoral and familial responsibilities, fostering coherence, accountability, and growth in holiness. integrates the deacon’s interior life with his pastoral and familial responsibilities, fostering coherence, accountability, and growth in holiness. Ecclesial Communion and Discernment From its inception, the Fraternity is conceived in explicit communion with the Church and in respectful obedience to diocesan bishops. It is not a movement of autonomy or reform, but an expression of deeper ecclesial unity among deacons. Any future development of the Fraternity would proceed only through proper ecclesial discernment and canonical process. Fidelity to the Magisterium, collaboration with bishops and priests, and transparency of purpose are foundational to its vision. An Invitation to Discern Together At this time, the Fraternity exists only as a proposal under prayerful consideration. I am seeking six permanent deacons willing to assist in an initial period of communal discernment. This discernment will involve prayer, theological reflection, dialogue, and honest evaluation of whether such an association is pastorally prudent and spiritually fruitful for the diaconate and the wider Church. There are no formal commitments or obligations at this stage, only a shared desire to listen attentively to the Holy Spirit. fruitful for the diaconate and the wider Church. There are no formal commitments or obligations at this stage, only a shared desire to listen attentively to the Holy Spirit. An Invitation to Discern Together Deacons who have been invited and sense an interest in participating in this discernment process are invited to inquire further and enter into conversation. Any future steps will proceed slowly, prayerfully, and always in fidelity to the Church’s discernment. Deacon Dom Cerrato Discernment Coordinator

Learn about retreats for deacons and their wives, priests and deacons along with the laity designed to renew the interior life and strengthen communion with Christ the Servant through prayer, reflection, and spiritual rest. Strengthen the Diaconate for Generations Sample Gap Analysis Report To get a sense of how comprehensive this assessment is, below is a sample report based on the online Gap Analysis Questionnaire. Scroll down to see complete report. Return to the Last Page

Contact Diaconal Ministries for inquiries about retreats, presentations, resources, events, or support for deacons and diocesan programs. Meeting Scheduler

Learn about the mission of Diaconal Ministries, dedicated to strengthening permanent deacons through spiritual renewal, integrated formation, and service rooted in the heart of Christ the Servant. Top About Diaconal Ministries Mission Vision Director Patroness Overview: Diaconal Ministries exists to renew the Church in the Heart of Christ the Servant. Rooted in the Church’s living Tradition and faithful to the Magisterium, our work seeks to help deacons and priests rediscover and more deeply integrate the diaconal dimension of Holy Orders into their lives and ministries. Diaconal Ministries At the heart of this mission is the conviction that every ordained minister is configured to Christ who “came not to be served but to serve” (Mk 10:45). For permanent deacons, this configuration is expressed in a distinct and stable way. For priests, the diaconate remains an indelible part of their ordination, a permanent mark that ought to shape the way they preach, celebrate the sacraments, and shepherd God’s people. Diaconal Ministries accompanies both deacons and priests in rediscovering this foundational identity so that all their ministry may flow from an encounter with Christ the Servant. Mission: Diaconal Ministries seeks to: Foster deeper intimacy with Christ the Servant in the lives of deacons and priests, so that ministry springs from contemplation rather than activism. Help priests recover and live their diaconal identity as an integral, permanent dimension of their priesthood. Assist deacons in entering more deeply into the mystery of their ordination, so that their service becomes a full gift-of-self to the Church and the poor. Support dioceses and parishes through solid theological formation, practical resources, and spiritually grounded pastoral strategies. Building especially on the personalism of Saint John Paul II and a robust theology of the diaconate, Diaconal Ministries offers formation that is intellectually sound, pastorally realistic, and spiritually rooted. Vision: We envision a Church in which: The diaconate is fully integrated into the life of the Church and seen as a vital expression of Christ’s own humble service. Deacons live a unified, Eucharistic spirituality in which their family life, professional work, and ecclesial ministry are all ordered to Christ the Servant. Priests and deacons collaborate in genuine clerical communion, each living his own order, yet sharing one common configuration to the Servant Christ. The People of God are led more deeply into the mystery of charity, especially toward the poor, the forgotten, and those on the margins. In short, Diaconal Ministries seeks to help the Church “breathe” with the heart of Christ the Servant, so that every aspect of pastoral life is marked by humble, sacrificial love. Mission Vision Back to Top Back to Top Director Back to Top The Director: Deacon Dominic Cerrato, Ph.D., is the Director of Diaconal Ministries and Editor of The Deacon magazine, published by The National Association of Diaconate Directors. He has taught theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost, and Holy Apostles College and Seminary, and has more than four decades of experience in pastoral ministry at both diocesan and parish levels. Deacon Dominic holds a BA in Theology from Franciscan University, an MA in Theology from Duquesne University, and a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the Graduate Theological Foundation. Ordained in 1995 as the first permanent deacon of the Diocese of Steubenville at the age of thirty-five, he is a national speaker, author, and retreat master. In addition to numerous scholarly articles and popular writings on the diaconate, he has published several books on diaconal theology and spirituality. In 2020, he was appointed by Pope Francis to an international papal commission to study the question of women and the diaconate. Deacon Dominic and his wife, Judith, have been married since 1982 and are blessed with seven children and many grandchildren. Back to Top Patroness Our Patroness: Mary, Mother of the Diaconate This ministry is entrusted in a special way to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In her humble “yes,” she receives and bears Christ the Servant, offering the Church the perfect model of diaconal service.Because she is the Mother of Christ the Servant, and deacons are configured sacramentally to that same Christ, Mary may fittingly be invoked as Mater Diaconati, Mother of the Diaconate. Under her patronage, Diaconal Ministries seeks to form servants according to her own heart — attentive to the Word, prompt in charity, and steadfast at the foot of the Cross. Maria, Mater Diaconati Ora Pro Nobis