Advanced Ministry Formation
for Deacon Candidates and Lay Ecclesial Ministers
Diocese of Las Vegas
The Deacon Formation Program is a three-year program that focuses on the human, spiritual, doctrinal, and pastoral formation of candidates preparing for ordination as Permanent Deacons in the Diocese of Las Vegas. It includes monthly weekend sessions, annual weekend retreats, bi-weekly faith sharing evenings, individual spiritual direction, and a five-day pre-ordination retreat. The wife of each deacon candidate is expected to participate in the annual retreats and in the spiritual/pastoral portions of the monthly sessions, and also strongly encouraged to attend the academic/doctrinal portions of the formation program, if possible.
The monthly instructional sessions of this program are also intended for Lay Ecclesial Ministers (men and women, religious sisters and brothers) not preparing for ordination as deacons. All participants must already have successfully completed the L.E.M.P., or have similar prior formation. Current priests and deacons may also attend the sessions for continuing education purposes.
While integrating all aspects of diaconal formation at all times, each year will concentrate on one of the three main functions of diaconal ministry:
Group A: Years 1-2: Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program, 2006 – 2008 Year 3 (Aug. 2008 – May 2009): Year 4 (Aug. 2009 – May 2010): Year 5 (Aug. 2010 – May 2011): Program Materials: |
Group B: Years 1-2: Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program, 2008 – 2010 Year 3 (Aug. 2010 – May 2011): Year 4 (Aug. 2011 – May 2012): Year 5 (Aug. 2012 – May 2013): Program Materials: |
Detailed Schedule for Group B: 2010–2013
Monthly sessions will meet on the third weekend of most months, but sometimes earlier (esp. Nov. & Dec.) to avoid various conflicts.
Unless otherwise noted, all monthly sessions are held at Bishop Gorman High School (5959 S. Hualapai Way, Las Vegas, NV 89148; Mapquest)
Year 3: Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Sundays 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Mass usually at 11:00 a.m.)
Year 4: Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Sundays 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Mass either at 8:00 or 10:00 a.m.)
Year 5: Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Sundays TBD
| Date / Fecha | Topical Focus | Instructor |
| YEAR 3 | WORD / SCRIPTURE | . |
| Aug. 20-22, 2010 | RETREAT - Marywood Pastoral Center, Orange, CA | Team from Loyola Institute, Orange |
| Sept. 18-19, 2010 [Sun 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.] |
Lectionary for Mass - PPT | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| Oct. 16-17, 2010 [Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.] |
Ministerial Ethics | Fr. Richard Gula, S.S. |
| Nov. 6-7, 2010 [Sun 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.] |
Liturgy of the Hours | Sr. Jeremy Gallet, S.P. |
Dec. 11-12, 2010 |
Preaching / Homiletics | Fr. Thomas Scirghi, S.J. |
| Jan. 15-16, 2011 [Sun 11:00 a.m. Candidacy Mass; Sessions 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.] |
Synoptic Gospels | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| Feb. 19-20, 2011 [Sun 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.] |
Gospel of John | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| March 12-13, 2011 [Sun 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.] |
Pauline & Deutero-Pauline Letters | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| April 2-3, 2011 [Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.] |
Acts, Catholic Epistles, Revelation | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| May 14-15, 2011 [Sun 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.] |
Old Testament | Corrine Carvalho, Ph.D. |
| YEAR 4 | LITURGY / SACRAMENTS | . |
| Aug. 26-28, 2011 | RETREAT - Center for Spiritual Development, Orange | Team from Loyola Institute, Orange |
| Sept. 17-18, 2011 | Presiding, esp. Communion (SCAP) | Gail Gresser |
| Oct. 15-16, 2011 Reader Installation |
Eucharist, esp. Deacon's Role | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| Nov. 5-6, 2011 | R.C.I.A. - Christian Initiation | Fr. Ron Oakham, O.Carm. |
| Dec. 3-4, 2011 | Infant Baptism & Family Preparation | Fr. Bill Kenny |
| Jan. 21-22, 2012 | Confirmation & Catechesis | Fr. Bill Kenny |
| Feb. 18-19, 2012 | Marriage & Pre-Marital Preparation | TBA |
| Mar. 17-18, 2012 | Anointing & Pastoral Care of the Sick | Ann Karner |
| Apr. 21-22, 2012 | Funerals & Bereavement Ministry | Team from Christ the King |
| May 19-20, 2012 | Reconciliation & Pastoral Counseling | Fr. Joe Annese |
| YEAR 5 | CHARITY / SERVICE | . |
| Aug. 24-26, 2012 | RETREAT - Center for Spiritual Development, Orange | Team from Loyola Institute, Orange |
| Sept. 15-16, 2012 | Introduction to Social Ministries | TBA |
| Oct. 13-14, 2012 Acolyte Installation |
Ministry / Community / Diakonia | TBA |
| Nov. 10-11, 2012 | Pastoral Policies & Practices | TBA |
| Dec. 8-9, 2012 | Youth and Young Adult Ministries | TBA |
| Jan. 19-20, 2013 | Multicultural Church | TBA |
| Feb. 16-17, 2013 | Introduction to Canon Law | TBA |
| March 16-17, 2013 | Canon Law of Marriage | TBA |
| April 16-21, 2013 | Pre-Ordination RETREAT (CSD, Orange) | Team from Loyola Institute, Orange |
| May 11-12, 2013 | Recap: Diaconal Ecclesial Ministry | Fr. Felix Just & Fr. Bill Kenny |
| Friday, May 31, 2013 | ORDINATION to the Permanent Diaconate (Cathedral) | Most Rev. Joseph Pepe, D.D. |
Detailed Schedule for Group A: 2008–2011
Monthly sessions will meet on the third weekend of most months, but sometimes earlier (esp. Nov. & Dec.) to avoid various conflicts.
Unless otherwise noted, all monthly sessions are held at Bishop Gorman High School (5959 S. Hualapai Way, Las Vegas, NV 89148; Mapquest)
Year 3: Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Sundays 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. (Mass usually at 8:00 a.m.)
Year 4: Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Sundays 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Mass either at 8:00 or 10:00 a.m.)
Year 5: Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Sundays 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Mass usually at 11:00 a.m.)
| Date / Fecha | Topical Focus | Instructor |
| YEAR 3 | WORD / SCRIPTURE | . |
| Aug. 29-31, 2008 | RETREAT - Falcon Ridge Hotel, Mesquite | Team from Loyola Institute, Orange |
| Sept. 20-21, 2008 | Ministry / Community / Diakonia | Ms. Gail Gresser |
| Oct. 18-19, 2008 | Liturgy of the Hours | Sr. Jeremy Gallet, S.P. |
| Nov. 8-9, 2008 | Preaching / Homiletics | Fr. Thomas Scirghi, S.J. |
| Dec. 6-7, 2008 | Lectionary for Mass | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| Jan 17-18, 2009 | Synoptic Gospels | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| Feb. 21-22, 2009 | Gospel of John | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| Mar. 21-22, 2009 | Old Testament | Rev. Robert Kugler, Ph.D. |
| Apr. 18-19, 2009 | Pauline & Deutero-Pauline Letters | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| May 16-17, 2009 | Acts, Catholic Epistles, Revelation | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| YEAR 4 | LITURGY / SACRAMENTS | . |
| Aug. 28-30, 2009 | RETREAT - Alexis Park Resort, Las Vegas | Team from Loyola Institute, Orange |
| Sept. 19-20, 2009 | Presiding, esp. Communion (SCAP) | Sr. Jeremy Gallet, S.P. |
| Oct. 17-18, 2009 Lector Installation |
Eucharist, esp. Deacon's Role | Fr. Felix Just, S.J. |
| Nov. 7-8, 2009 | R.C.I.A. - Christian Initiation | Ms. Gail Gresser |
| Dec. 5-6, 2009 | Infant Baptism & Family Preparation | Fr. Bill Kenny |
| Jan. 16-17, 2010 | Confirmation & Catechesis | Fr. Bill Kenny |
| Feb. 20-21, 2010 | Marriage & Pre-Marital Preparation | Deacon Tom & Joann Halt |
| Mar. 13-14, 2010 | Anointing & Pastoral Care of the Sick | Ms. Ann Karner |
| Apr. 17-18, 2010 | Funerals & Bereavement Ministry | Team from Christ the King |
| May 15-16, 2010 Sun 8:00-12:00 only |
Reconciliation & Pastoral Counseling | Fr. Joe Annese |
| YEAR 5 | CHARITY / SERVICE | . |
| Aug. 27-29, 2010 | RETREAT - Center for Spiritual Development, Orange | Team from Loyola Institute, Orange |
| Sept. 18-19, 2010 |
Social Ministries (Acolyte Installation - Sat. 5:30 p.m.) |
Msgr. Pat Leary |
| Oct. 16-17, 2010 | Ministerial Ethics | Fr. Richard Gula, S.S. |
| Nov. 6-7, 2010 | Pastoral Policies & Practices | Fr. Bob Stoeckig |
| Dec. 11-12, 2010 | Youth and Young Adult Ministries | Fr. Bill Kenny & Team |
| Jan. 15-16, 2011 | Cultural Diversity and the Church's Mission | Fr. Allan Deck, S.J. |
| Feb. 19-20, 2011 | Introduction to Canon Law | Bishop Joseph Pepe |
| March 12-13, 2011 | Canon Law of Marriage | Msgr. Francis Vivona |
| April 5-10, 2011 | Pre-Ordination RETREAT Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale |
Fr. Felix Just, SJ; Fr. Bill Kenny; and Team from L.I.S. |
| May 14-15, 2011 | Recap: Diaconal Ecclesial Ministry | Fr. Felix Just, SJ & Fr. Bill Kenny |
| Friday, June 3, 2011 |
Ordination Rehearsal (9:00 a.m. - Shrine) | Fr. John Assalone |
| Friday, June 3, 2011 | ORDINATION to the
Permanent Diaconate (7:00 p.m. - Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer) |
Most Rev. Joseph Pepe, D.D. |
For more information, please contact
Fr. Bill Kenny Phone: 702-459-7778; Fax: 702-437-9548 |
Fr. Felix Just, S.J. Phone: 714-997-9587 x28; Fax: 714-997-9588 |
This page was last updated on
June 15, 2011
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