It is important to note that some areas within the Diocese of Charleston are in greater need of deacons than others. Therefore, prior to moving to the diocese, the deacon should contact the Director of the Permanent Diaconate to discuss the relocation to South Carolina, and to find an appropriate location for the diaconal assignment.
Permanent Deacons moving into the Diocese of Charleston need to have the faculties of the diocese if they wish to be active in ministry, and may not serve on the altar or perform any diaconate functions until the letter of assignment has been received.
Faculties & Assignments
Requesting Faculties, Assignments, Transferring
Deacons who move or transfer into the diocese and wish to minister within it must obtain the required canonical faculties. In both cases, the deacon should contact the Director to discuss relocation to South Carolina, and to find an appropriate location for the diaconal assignment. The deacon may be assigned to any parish within a 30-minute drive of his home. For any permanent deacon over the age of 70, there is no possibility of incardination, and he will only be granted an assignment if he can bring a strong ministry that is not currently offered at a parish.
Required Documentation
The following documents are required to seek faculties in the Diocese of Charleston:
- Download and complete Application for Diaconal Assignment form (email to Director of the Permanent Diaconate: rarmstrong@charlestondiocese.org)
- Letter of recommendation and certification of good standing from the director of the diaconate in your previous diocese
- Copies of your official documents, faculties received, etc
- Transcripts of the training you received, including grades and evaluations during formation
- Letter of recommendation and evaluation of your ministry from your previous pastor
- Letter from your bishop granting you permission to serve in the Diocese of Charleston
- Letter of approval from your wife (if applicable)
- Letter of acceptance from the pastor of the parish within the diocese where you wish to continue your ministry.
- Please Note: Assignment will be based on the needs of the diocese in conjunction with the desires of the incoming deacon.
- Two letters of recommendation from members of the parish staff or fellow parishioners from the last parish served, or a work associate
- Completed background screening paper work (provided by the Office of the Permanent Diaconate)
- Completion of safe environment training: Virtus
- A driver application, license and insurance
- Photo of deacon and wife for the Deacon Directory.
- Please email the photo to the Director.
Next Steps
- Once all these documents have been received, the Diaconate Office will schedule an appointment for you to meet with the Director of the Permanent Diaconate to discuss your ministry. At the next retreat, the Deacon will also attend a workshop to review and discuss the Diaconate Policies in the Diocese of Charleston.
- The Deacon’s file will be presented to the Bishop with an appointment recommendation based on a parish needs, and the ministry in which the deacon will be active in at that parish.
- If approved, the Bishop will then grant the deacon faculties and give him his assignment.
- All retreat, day of prayer, ongoing formation, and Safe Environment obligations must be met. Please see the Deacon Handbook for details.
- For Active and Senior Active deacons, the Deacon will meet with the Director at the Day of Prayer for the first two years after receiving faculties. He will also submit an Annual Ministry Report to the Director by January 30th for the first three years after receiving faculties.
- After a period of no fewer than three years of ministering, should a deacon wish to seek incardination in the Diocese of Charleston, he must request a personal interview with the Director. The deacon requesting incardination normally should not be older than 65. Exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis. See the Diaconate Handbook for details.