Local programs for spiritual and practical formation are woven together at the St. Phoebe School. While engaging in coursework through CALL @ CDSP, those preparing for the diaconate are also engaged in daily prayer, spiritual formation, service projects, local and online liturgical gatherings, in-person retreats and both virtual and face-to-face support. In addition, a second-year internship with a local parish and/or community ministry help prepare our students for engaged ministry to the Church, in local context.
Spiritual
Students engage in daily prayer and spiritual enrichment through the Virtual Chapel of St. Phoebe. Retreats, local formation groups and quarterly liturgical events offer spiritual support and prayerful grounding in diaconal ministry.
Practical
Parish internships offer practical, hands-on experience with mentor deacons in a host parish setting during the final year of study. During parish internships, students meet to discuss their experiences and encourage each other’s growth.
Relational
Local formation involves groups gathered for prayer, for study, for planning and participating in liturgy, for mutual support and for mentoring. Spiritual, practical and relational formation are facilitated by a Local Formation Director.
Local formation and relationship building are at the core of the St. Phoebe School for Deacons. These opportunities occur in face-to-face and virtual formats, accommodating the needs and life situations of students.
DAILY prayer in the Virtual Chapel of St. Phoebe, including opportunities for live-via-Zoom prayer Monday – Friday and additional opportunities every day for common prayer and shared reflections on scripture readings from the daily office in both synchronous and asynchronous formats.
WEEKLY and MONTHLY virtual opportunities and scheduled gatherings for spiritual and practical formation, including cohort check-ins; scheduled “study call” meetings via Zoom during academic quarters at CDSP; small group processing and formation during parish/community internships; and events and virtual gatherings in the company of other Deacons along with clergy and lay people supporting our deacons-in-formation.
QUARTERLY liturgically themed worship and formation opportunities which may occur virtually or in host parishes which provide opportunities to discuss, practice, and embody diaconal service to the church and to the world.
YEARLY in person retreats (3 over two years) emphasizing formation, integration, and development. Retreats have spiritual, relational and service-learning components. Each summer quarter will also introduce the locally developed topical course in which students will participate.
In addition, the St. Phoebe School offers ONGOING support, mentoring, idea sharing and relationship building among all cohorts of deacons-in-formation and mentor deacons located in the diocese.
The St. Phoebe School for Deacons 