The Diaconate
The Diaconate in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Following the guidelines and wishes of Vatican Council II
and the National Council of Catholic Bishops, in the spring
of 1982, the Most Rev. James J. Hogan instructed Rev. Robert
J. Kelly to initiate a program for the formation of Permanent
Deacons.
The first group of five deacons in our diocese was trained
under the direction of Fr. Kelly and was ordained by Bishop
James J. Hogan on June 1, 1985.
Shortly after his installation as bishop in 1987, Bishop
Joseph Adamec, instructed Fr. Kelly, who was the Vocation
Director, to take steps to select a second class of candidates
for formation and to develop a program that would be ongoing
for our diocese.
Rev. Leonard Voytek was subsequently appointed as Vocation
Director and initiated the second class of candidates in
September of 1988.
Our second formation class resulted in the ordination of
five more deacons on May 2, 1992. The third formation class
resulted in the ordination of three more deacons on May
13, 1995. The fourth formation class resulted in the ordination
of two more deacons on April 20, 1996. The fifth formation
class resulted in the ordination of two more deacons on
May 24, 1997.
The sixth formation class resulted in the ordination of
two more deacons on May 30, 1998. The seventh formation
class resulted in the ordination of four more deacons on
May 22, 1999. The eighth formation class resulted in the
ordination of six more deacons on May 27, 2000. The ninth
formation class resulted in the ordination of one more deacon
on May 11, 2002.
The tenth formation class resulted in the ordination of
two more deacons on June 7, 2003.
The eleventh formation class resulted in the ordination
of two more deacons on May 22, 2004. The twelfth formation
class resulted in the ordination of two more deacons on
June 3, 2006. The thirteenth formation class resulted in
the ordination of one more deacon on May 26, 2007.
With the death of five of our deacons and after one has
retired from active duty and four moved out of the diocese,
there are now 30 active deacons in our diocese. There are
also currently ten men in formation and five men who are
participating in a discernment year with the possibility
of making application in 2008.
More Information to Come on the Following:
Diaconate in the Roman Catholic Church
