Diocese of Oakland

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Diocese of Oakland

• Diaconate Discernment
• Inquiry
• Program

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Todays Schedule
900- 915 Welcome and opening prayer
915-945 Discernment 945-1015 Prayer
Focus Using Scripture / Lectio
Devina 1015-1030 Application Process
Chronological Autobiography Break 1045-1115
Dimensions of Diaconate Deacon as Icon of
Jesus the Servant 1115-1145 Integration of
our faith life (Small Group) 1145-1200 Check in
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Discernment
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Discernment

• From last time
• Who is the God we are listening to
• Attitudes for discernment
• Listening, listening listening
• Discipline or habit of prayer
• Being open

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How do I discern

• Head
• Heart

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Authentic calling brings together 3 things

• Joy what enjoy doing most
• Talent What we are good at
• Service What others need most

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Joy v. Happiness/pleasure

• Joy
• deep and reliable indicator of spiritual
  righteousness
• coming from within, internal
• gift of the Spirit
• can feel joy in bad situations
• Happiness/pleasure
• more transient feeling, temporary
• superficial and dependent on external factors

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This above all to thine own self be true

• Self awareness and reflection to distinguish
  between joy, happiness/pleasure
• Contemplation / silence

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Talent What am I good at?

• Talent v. skill
• Skill training, discipline, practice
• Talent potential, spontaneous
• Interests, fits with temperament and personality
• Success v. failure, both teachers
• Listening to our experience
• Listening to feedback from others

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Service whats if for?

• Does it have greater meaning beyond myself
• Will it benefit the greater good?
• Pieces of a bigger picture
• Role of community in affirming gifts

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SEE / JUDGE / ACT

• Vatican II read the sign of the times in light
  of the Gospel
• Called to do it as Church, also implications for
  personal discernment

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SEE Where am I in the broader community?

• Becoming aware of your social, economic,
  political context
• Becoming aware of social, economic, political
  context of others
• What are the concerns, issues, needs
• Need for community input

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JUDGE

• In light of the Gospel, what am I called to do?
• Whats my place?
• Whats my purpose?
• What am I called to do?
• Matching Joy and Talents to Needs
• Need for community input

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ACT What should I do? How do I it?

• Deciding and committing
• Collaborating

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Gandhis Talisman

• I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in
  doubt, or when the self becomes too much with
  you, apply the following test. Recall the face of
  the poorest and the weakest man woman whom you
  may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you
  contemplate is going to be of any use to him
  her. Will he she gain anything by it? Will it
  restore him her to a control over his her own
  life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to
  freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving
  millions?Then you will find your doubts and your
  self melt away."

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Exercise

• Go over your calendar for the last month
• How did you spend your time?
• What brought true joy
• When did you use your talents
• Was it for you or for others
• Go over your checkbook for the last month
• How did you spend your money?
• What expenditures brought true joy
• How much was related to using or developing your
  talents
• Was it spent for you or for others

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Prayer
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Lectio Devina
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Lectio Devina
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Pope Benedict XVI 

• "I would like in particular to recall and
  recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio divina
  the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture
  accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate
  dialogue in which the person reading hears God
  who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him
  with trusting openness of heart (cf. Dei Verbum,
  n. 25). If it is effectively promoted, this
  practice will bring to the Church - I am
  convinced of it - a new spiritual springtime."

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Practice

• 12th century
• Time
• Place
• Scripture passage

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Lectio rhythm

• Pray for openness, prepare to listen
• Read text first time engage text in silence, let
  it penetrate your soul
• Read text second time ask for a word or phrase,
  chew on that word
• Read text third time ask God what he wants from
  you now.
• Thank God.

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Homework

• Chronological Autography

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Goals

• help you in your self-awareness
• see your lifes journey from a broader
  perspective
• discern Gods presence in your life, and
• let us know you better

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Content

• Major events
• Significant people

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Format

• Example 1 (Timeline)
• 1960 I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The
  first child. Cradle Catholic.
• 1962 My brother was bornwe moved to Fond du
  Lac.
• 1964 Another brother was bornI remember going
  to Church at St. Marys and that my dog ran away.
  
• 1965 My sister was born. I started kindergarten
  in public school. I spent a lot of time riding
  my bike.
• 1966-7 My brother was born. I went to Catholic
  School in 1st grade. I made my first communion.
  My grandparents house burned down. We moved back
  to the Milwaukee area

Example 2 (Narrative) College Years I went to
college at Moorhead State University and it was
the first time I lived away from my parents. I
did well in my classes and lived in a house with
five other guys. We were known on campus for our
parties. I was involved in the Newman Center
where I first learned about peace and justice
issues. The biggest influences on me were the
priest at the Newman Center and on of my poli-sci
professors. I had a couple girlfriends, but
didnt feel serious about any of the
relationships. During college I worked part time
at the jail, which opened my eyes to a whole
other reality
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Reflection Questions

• a.At this point, why do you think you want to be
  a deacon/deacons wife?
• b.Why do you think that God might be calling you
  to the diaconate?
• c.What is most appealing to you about the
  diaconate?
• d.What is least attractive?
• e.What is a concern you have about being a deacon
  / deacons wife?

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Dimensions of Diaconate
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Icon of Jesus the Servant
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Icon / Sacrament doorway to the sacred
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St. Stephen company
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Integration
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Application Process
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Application Process

• Last time Checklist
• Chronological Autobiography

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(No Transcript)
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Psalm 139
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me You
know when I sit and stand you understand my
thoughts from afar.
My travels and my rest you mark with all my
ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on
my tongue, LORD, you know it all. Behind and
before you encircle me and rest your hand upon
me.
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Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for
me to reach. Where can I hide from your spirit?
From your presence, where can I flee? If I
ascend to the heavens, you are there if I lie
down in Sheol, you are there too.
If I fly with the wings of dawn and alight
beyond the sea, Even there your hand will guide
me, your right hand hold me fast.
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If I say, "Surely darkness shall hide me, and
night shall be my light" -- Darkness is not dark
for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness
and light are but one.
You formed my inmost being you knit me in my
mother's womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you
made me wonderful are your works! My very self
you knew my bones were not hidden from you,
When I was being made in secret, fashioned as
in the depths of the earth.
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Your eyes foresaw my actions in your book all
are written down my days were shaped, before
one came to be
How precious to me are your designs, O God how
vast the sum of them! Were I to count, they
would outnumber the sands to finish, I would
need eternity.
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ALL Probe me, God, know my heart try me,
know my concerns. Amen.