Friends, family and Island faithful are invited to two key upcoming rites for the diocese’s eighth and ninth deacon formation classes.
On Jan. 15, 2017, in a special liturgical ceremony at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe at 2 p.m., deacon formation Class 9 members will publicly declare their willingness to be candidates for the permanent diaconate.
The 18 men in Class 9 have just completed their “aspirancy year,” in which they spent discerning a possible vocation to the diaconate. The Jan. 15 Rite of Candidacy begins their next period of studies and pastoral work.
The diocese’s eighth permanent deacon class, whose members have already completed four years of formation, is scheduled to receive the Rite of Acolyte on Feb. 12, 2017, at St. Stephen Diocesan Center chapel, 11:30 a.m.
An acolyte’s duty is to assist the deacon and priest in liturgical celebrations, particularly the Mass. The Rite of Acolyte is the last major step before ordination to the permanent diaconate. Ordination for Class 8 is expected to take place in early 2018.
For more information, contact the diocesan deacon formation office at 203-6718.
Update: The Office of the Bishop reports that the Mass time for the Rite of Acolyte ceremony on Feb. 12, 2017, has been changed. The liturgy is now scheduled to take place at St. Stephen Diocesan Center chapel at 9:30 a.m.
