About

The United States Conference of Bishops (USCCB) promulgated the approved National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States in 2004. This document was approved by the Holy See.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Charleston established an Office for the Permanent Diaconate, and the fundamental goals of the Permanent Diaconate program of the Diocese are:

  • To train and form, by study and prayer, men who have demonstrated active church service and leadership for diaconal ministry, and
  • To direct and support the ministry of permanent deacons in the diocese.

The Charleston program strives to put particular emphasis on the notion of the deacon “as one who serves.” The goals of the program are these:

  • To provide theological formation that will prepare effective ministers of the Gospel, and provide enough knowledge of ecclesiastical sciences to make them competent in the specific ministry they exercise;

  • To provide the means for the spiritual development and growth of permanent deacons and candidates;

  • To provide pastoral formation that equips the deacon with the pastoral skills needed in his ministry;

  • To provide family formation that allows families to support enthusiastically their husbands and fathers; and

  • To provide on-going formation and direction for deacons and their families.

History

The diaconate program in the Diocese of Charleston was initiated by Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler and supervised by Msgr. Thomas R. Duffy, Vicar General, who was named director of deacons.

During the many years that Msgr. Duffy directed the diaconate program, formational changes and improvements were made. The first deacons were ordained for service in the Diocese of Charleston in 1971. Deacons were sent to serve throughout the state in parochial and diocesan assignments. Msgr. Duffy led the program from its days of infancy to its time of growth. Constant updating was seen in the academic training program. The priests of the diocese assisted in this effort by the gratuitous and generous gift of their time to educate deacons.

In 1990, under the leadership of Bishop David B. Thompson, Msgr. Joseph R. Roth was appointed chairman/director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate for the diocese. In 1999, Bishop Robert J. Baker re-appointed Msgr. Roth as the director. He was assisted in this role by Rev. Edward W. Fitzgerald, spiritual director of the program, and Rev. Jay Scott Newman, academic director responsible for aspirancy and candidate paths of the program.

Msgr. Roth guided the diaconate program until his death in 2011. In addition to his book The Deacon in Church Ministry, Msgr. Roth served on the executive board of the National Association of Diaconate Directors (NADD) from 1995-1998 and as president of the association from 1996-1997. He was assisted by Deacons George Tierney and Walt Pezanowski.

In 2011, Father Fitzgerald was appointed director under the leadership of Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone. He was assisted in this role by Deacon André Guillet, director of diaconate formation, plus Deacons George Tierney and Gabriel Cuervo, who assisted regionally.

In 2014, Deacon Guillet was named the director, the first deacon to hold the position. He was assisted at various times by Deacons Cuervo, Ron Anderson, Regi Armstrong, John Tempesco and Tom Whalen. Deacon Guillet retired in 2022, and is responsible for the formation of almost 90 deacons during his tenure.

Deacon John Tempesco succeeded as director in 2022, with Deacon Armstrong as director of formation. Fifteen men were ordained in February 2023 and 35 more are currently in formation.

In July 2023, Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, appointed Deacon Armstrong as director of the permanent diaconate, and in November he appointed Deacon Brian Justice as director of formation.