The Pontifical College Josephinum has received a grant of $878,790 from the Lilly Endowment to help the Josephinum Diaconate Institute strengthen pre- and post-ordination diaconate formation.
The effort is being funded through the endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, which is designed to help theological schools across the United States and Canada prepare pastoral leaders.
The Josephinum Diaconate Institute (JDI) was inaugurated by the Pontifical College Josephinum in 2007 in response to the continuing education and formation requirements of permanent deacons.
The JDI offers educational programs through distance learning – in both English and Spanish – to diaconal aspirants and candidates, permanent deacons and their spouses and lay ministers serving or preparing to serve in the Catholic Church.
“The Catholic Church in the United States needs spiritual leaders who acknowledge the importance of continued theological study, are conversant in social sciences relevant to pastoral ministry and who are attuned to the competencies and skills needed for ministry to others,” said Father Steven P. Beseau, rector/president of the Josephinum.
The U.S Catholic Church’s 37,000 priests are supported in their care of congregations by 18,000 permanent deacons and lay ecclesial leaders. Although ordained to a distinct sacred office, permanent deacons face many of the same challenges today as priests, such as a decrease in their numbers and an increase in their pastoral responsibilities.
Deacons must also comply with many of the same ecclesial directives as those of priests; prominent among them is the need to commit themselves to a lifelong program of ongoing education.
“The grant from Lilly Endowment will enable the JDI to respond to the urgent need for programs designed to assist deacons in balancing the demands of their familial, professional and ministerial lives, stay current with professional advancements and become attuned to a changing cultural climate that challenges the beliefs, values and quality of life of the faithful they serve,” said Father Beseau.
“Ultimately, the developments made possible by this funding will empower the institute to further its mission to offer programs that instill in permanent deacons a lifelong thirst to grow intellectually, pastorally, and spiritually.”