New Deacon Class
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Could God be calling you to the permanent diaconate?
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Bishop Zubik is calling for a new deacon classInterested and qualified Catholic men are invited to apply for a new formation class to serve the Church as permanent deacons.
Permanent deacons are ordained ministers in the Roman Catholic Church. They assist priests at Mass, preach on occasion, and preside at baptisms, weddings, funeral services, and other liturgical functions. They provide pastoral care to people in hospitals, nursing homes, jails, and prisons, among other settings, sharing the faith by word and example.
Read on for applicant qualifications, how to apply, to register for an information session, and to learn more about the diaconate.
Register for an Information Session here
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Read the news release
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May 22
Bishop David Zubik is calling for interested and qualified Catholic men to apply for a new formation class to serve the Church as permanent deacons.Read More
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How can I get started?
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Qualifications needed:Applicants must:
- be a married or single man between the ages of 30 and 59,
- be a college graduate (bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience),
- be in full communion with the Catholic Church
- have a secure job or source of income
- feel called to serve
Additional qualification information will be shared at the Information Sessions.
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Application process:To begin the application process, a nomination by the inquirer’s pastor or by another priest or deacon of the Diocese of Pittsburgh is required by the deadline of August 31, 2025.
Applications without a nomination will not be considered.
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Register for an Information Session
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Come to one of three sessions
Three information sessions will take place at the Diocesan Pastoral Center (2900 Noblestown Road, Pittsburgh 15205):
Tuesday, June 17, 2025: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Saturday, June 21, 2025: 9:00 am to 11:30 am
Wednesday, July 9, 2025: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Interested applicants only need to attend one session. Wives are welcome and encouraged to come. Applicants are not required to attend an Information Session.
Register for an Information Session here
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How does a man become a deacon?
- How long does the Formation Program last?
- How are deacons different from priests?
- What’s the difference between permanent and transitional deacons?
- How are deacons assigned?
- Is every deacon assigned to a parish?
- Are deacons paid for their ministry?
- Can a man apply to the formation program at any time?
- Can deacons be married?
- Is becoming a deacon a lifelong commitment?
- When does formation begin?
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How does a man become a deacon?Men who believe they might have a vocation to diaconate ministry are expected to initially discuss the idea with their wife, if married, and family, and then to meet with their pastor.
The nomination of a pastor, other priest, or deacon of the diocese that initiates the application process.
Admission to the formation program occurs only after a rigorous evaluation process.
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How long does the Formation Program last?The Formation Program typically lasts for 5 years.
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How are deacons different from priests?While both priests and deacons are ordained ministers, they have different primary roles in the Church.
Priests stand In Persona Christi—in the person of Christ—to consecrate the Eucharist at Mass and to celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick.
Deacons never perform these sacred functions. In the words of the Second Vatican Council, deacons are ordained “not unto the priesthood, but unto a ministry of service.”
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What's the difference between permanent and transitional deacons?Seminarians in formation for the priesthood are ordained as deacons in their final stages of preparation. They are called transitional deacons, compared to permanent deacons, who are not advancing to the priesthood. However, the difference is in name only; their diaconal ministry is the same.
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How are deacons assigned?At ordination, deacons promise obedience to the diocesan bishop and his successors.
Deacons, like priests, receive their assignments from the bishop, who may appoint them to any pastoral ministry throughout the diocese.
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Is every deacon assigned to a parish?In the Diocese of Pittsburgh, all deacons are rooted in a parish for liturgical service.
The parish to which a deacon is assigned may or may not be his home parish.
If a deacon is not assigned to his home parish, consideration is given to keeping him relatively close to home.
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Are deacons paid for their ministry?Deacons in this diocese are expected to perform their ministry on a part-time, voluntary basis.
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Can a man apply to the formation program at any time?No. It’s up to the diocesan bishop to determine if and when he wants to call for a new class tobegin the Deacon Formation Program.
His decision to do so will begin the nomination andapplication process.
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Can deacons be married?The diaconate is open to both married and unmarried men.
A married candidate must exhibit a stable marriage and family life. A candidate’s wife must consent for him to enter the formation program and, ultimately, to be ordained.
After ordination, a deacon cannot marry or remarry. Consequently, unmarried candidates must be willing to embrace a life of celibacy, and married candidates must consider if they could accept celibacy in the unfortunate event they lose their spouse after ordination.
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Is becoming a deacon a lifelong commitment?Yes. A man ordained as a deacon is not making a temporary or reversible commitment. He is embracing a distinct, permanent vocation, strengthened by the sacramental grace of Holy Orders, to a ministry of service in the Church.
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When does formation begin?Formation begins in late spring of 2026 and takes place weekly at the Diocesan Pastoral Center (2900 Noblestown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15205).
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How do the application and admissions processes work?
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Read the details:
1. An inquirer should discuss his interest in the diaconate with his wife (if married), family, pastor, and colleagues to help him discern a possible vocation.
2. The inquirer's pastor or any other priest or deacon of the diocese submits a nomination on his behalf, triggering the application process. The inquirer is asked to respond in writing to the nomination.
3. Deadlines are set for different stages of the application process.
4. The applicant is scheduled for two interviews: an initial interview to clarify application information and determine any canonical irregularities followed by an admission interview.
5. The applicant undergoes a psychological evaluation for insight into his personality and suitability for formation and ministry. If married, his wife is consulted as part of the evaluation.
6. A visit to the applicant’s home is made.
7. If married, the applicant’s wife is asked to provide written consent if she is willing for her husband to proceed with his application and possible admission into the program.
8. The Deacon Advisory and Formation Board evaluates all application materials, information from the interviews, and recommendations in order to submit to the diocesan bishop a list of recommended applicants.
9. The bishop reviews and makes a determination about the admission of each applicant.
10. If approved, the applicant begins the Propaedeutic Period of the Deacon Formation Program.
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Reach out with any questions
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We'd love to hear from you!Contact Deacon John J. Carran or Lauren Gault at [email protected] or 412-456-3124 x 1000.
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