Diaconate General Information Sessions
Diaconate information sessions are held three times a year and offer anyone interested in learning about the diaconate ministry and formation requirements the opportunity to meet and engage with deacons and their wives and learn about the vocation of a deacon. It is only necessary to attend one information session as part of the Inquiry process. The schedule for information sessions for this year is:
- Sunday, October 4, 2026 @ 6:00pm (Christ the King Church, Guilderland)
- Sunday, January 31, 2027 @ 6:00pm (St. Mary Church, Clinton Heights)
- Sunday, April 25, 2027 @ 6:00pm (St. Mary, Amsterdam)
Becoming an Inquirer
An Inquirer to the vocation of the diaconate in the Diocese of Albany is any man who has indicated his interest and discernment of this vocation by submitting a Diaconate Inquirer intake form to the Office of Initial Diaconate Formation. This can be done at any time, before, during, or after attending a general information session. The intake form is available online or by contacting the Office of Initial Diaconate Formation.
Inquirer Community Events
The Office of Initial Diaconate Formation periodically offers events for Inquirers and their wives, if married, to gather together for prayer, community, and a presentation on a topic relevant to those discerning a vocation to the diaconate. The currently scheduled Inquirer events are:
- Who is a Deacon? – Dcn. Andrew Haskins
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 @ 7:00pm, Diocesan Pastoral Center
- Deacons and Catholic Social Teaching – Dcn. Gary Riggi
Date and Time TBD
- Scripture as Prayer (Lectio Divina) – Fr. Stephen Yusko
Date and Time TBD
- Diaconate Spirituality – Dcn. Andrew Haskin
Tuesday, February 27, 2027 @ 7:00pm, Diocesan Pastoral Center - Spiritual Direction – Dcn. Nicholas Ascioti and Dcn. Paul Cerosaletti
Date and Time TBD
Discernment Groups
Discernment groups offer the opportunity for Inquirers and their wives to meet together in a small group to reflect and discuss their discernment to the diaconate with each other and diaconate formators. New discernment groups will be forming as needed. Please contact the Office of Initial Diaconate Formation if you are interested in being part of a discernment group.
Individual Meetings with the Directors of Diaconate Formation
Throughout the discernment process, the Directors of Diaconate Formation will meet with Inquirers periodically to discuss their discernment to the vocation of the diaconate and assess their readiness enter into formation. Once the intake form has been submitted to the Office of Diaconate Formation, the Directors will contact the Inquirers to schedule the individual meetings as needed.