Bishop Zubik calls for new class of Permanent Deacons

PITTSBURGH— 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.

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.

“My hope in calling for another class of deacons is to foster the formation of men who are willing to use their God-given talents to become servant leaders in the Church and embrace the model of Jesus’s humble, loving care,” Bishop Zubik said. “Service, which is the defining characteristic of the diaconate, has always been at the heart of the Church’s ministry.”

Currently, 110 permanent deacons serve in the diocese. Six men are in the formation program.

Applicants must be between the ages of 30 and 59, a college graduate, and in full communion with the Catholic Church. They also must have a secure job or source of income and feel called to serve. The vast majority of permanent deacons are married. It must be noted that they must be married before being ordained.

More details and applicant criteria will be shared at information sessions for interested applicants and their wives, held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center (2900 Noblestown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 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

“I’d encourage anyone who’d like to learn more about the formation experience and diaconal ministry to attend one of these sessions—even if he’s not sure he has a calling to the diaconate; they’ll be informal, and there will be no pressure,” said Deacon John Carran, director of the Deacon Formation Program.

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. The formation program typically lasts for five years.

To register for an information session or for more information about the application process, visit: https://diopitt.org/new-deacon-class.