The Archdiocese of Mobile will conduct inquiry/discernment sessions for men interested in entering into the permanent diaconate formation program. The sessions will be conducted in both the English and Spanish language. The inquiry/discernment sessions will consist of six inquiry-discernment sessions and one application workshop. These sessions shall be about two hours each over a six-month period, with the first session beginning Saturday, Feb. 22 at four locations.
St. Patrick Parish, Robertsdale - Spanish sessions (only) St. Columba Parish, Dothan - English & Spanish sessions Holy Spirit Parish, Montgomery - English & Spanish sessions St. Joseph (Maysville), Mobile - English sessions (only)
Subsequent sessions will be held Saturday, March 22 Saturday, April 26 Saturday, May 24 Saturday, June 28 Saturday, July 26 Saturday, Aug. 23 (application workshop)
Men who have an interest and/or vocation to the permanent diaconate should first dialogue with their pastors to express their interest to enter into the upcoming inquiry/discernment sessions for diaconal formation. The inquirer must ensure that they meet the “general criteria for deacon applicant” posted at mobarch.org/diaconate.
Communication will be provided to each archdiocesan pastor explaining the above process. If the pastor has a man within his parish who is interested in entering into the upcoming sessions, the interested party/inquirer should ask the pastor to submit his name to the Office of the Permanent Diaconate. The inquirer and his wife (if married) will be invited to attend the required sessions. The inquirer and wife’s attendance of all six sessions will ultimately lead to the inquirer being offered a formal application to complete. All applications shall be completed and returned to the Office of the Permanent Diaconate by Oct. 31.
It is anticipated that the formal applicants interview and selection process will require between six to eight months, depending upon the number of applicants. The first formation class for those applicants entering into first year of Aspirancy is scheduled to begin in August 2026. May God bless all men, who have an interest or vocation to enter into the upcoming formation program.