Purpose
“The vocational synthesis stage is a gradual realization of the cleric’s responsibility for the care of souls while he resides full-time in a pastoral setting, usually the parish. The goal of the vocational synthesis stage is to help the deacon make this essential transition before assuming the full responsibilities of priestly life and ministry in the context of his particular ecclesiastical entity.” (Program of Priestly Formation, Sixth Edition, 137)
Vocational Synthesis at Notre Dame Seminary
Notre Dame Seminary is committed to supporting dioceses and religious communities in the transition of deacons into clerical life and ministry. To provide this support, NDS offers three key services: (1) Ongoing Support, (2) In-person Modules, and (3) the Canonical Retreat for Priestly Ordination. Below are descriptions of what each service entails.
Any transitional deacon, regardless of where he received seminary formation, is welcome to participate.
Registration Information
Dioceses are encouraged to participate in all services offered by NDS. To register, complete the form by clicking here.
Deadline to register is December 17, 2024.
Dioceses and Religious Communities will be billed in January once registration has been finalized.
Ongoing Support
One-on-One Mentorship with member of the NDS Formation Team: Transitional deacons will have the opportunity to select a mentor from the NDS Formation Team for monthly sessions focused on the transition to and integration of priestly life. These mentors will also be available “on-call” for more urgent matters.
Topics for the monthly sessions will include:
- Rule of Life and maintaining of prayer life
- Time Management
- Stress Management
- Engaging solitude and appropriately handling loneliness
- Discerning appropriate boundaries in ministerial relationships
- Accountability for Personal Well-Being: Days-Off, Regular Spiritual Direction, Mental Health
In-person Module: "Developing as a Spiritual Father and Spiritual Leader in the Church" - February 17-21, 2025
This module is designed to support transitional deacons by first offering a day of prayer, fostering deeper intimacy with Jesus Christ after two months of full-time parish ministry.
Following this, transitional deacons will engage in two days of workshops facilitated by Paul George, founder of The Art of Living from Lafayette, LA. They will focused on understanding and refining his unique ministerial style and exploring its impact on his clerical life, as well as enhancing communication and collaboration with his pastor and parish staff. The workshop titles are the following:
- Understanding Family of Origin and Personality: Foundations for Fatherhood and Leadership
- Identifying Your Working Genius: Self-Awareness for Ministry and Leadership
- Understanding Relationship Dynamics and Leadership: Conflict and Communication
- Self Gift without Burnout: Practical Tools for Organization, Scheduling, and Time Management
Cost: $775 (all-inclusive, excluding transportation arrangements to and from NDS)
Desert Day
Tuesday, February 18
8:00 am – Lauds
8:15 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Conference
* Silence Begins
10:00-11:00 am – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
11:45 am – Mass
12:30 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Conference
5:45 pm – Vespers
* Silence Begins
6:00 pm – Dinner
6:45 pm – Evening Session with Fr. Sibley
Workshops
Wednesday, February 19
8:00 am – Lauds
8:15 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Understanding Family of Origin and Personality: Foundations for Fatherhood and Leadership
11:45 am – Mass
12:30 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Identifying Your Working Genius: Self-Awareness for Ministry and Leadership
5:45 pm – Vespers
6:00 pm – Dinner
6:45 pm – Panel Discussion with Archbishop Hughes
Workshops
Thursday, February 20
8:00 am – Lauds
8:15 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Understanding Relationship Dynamics and Leadership: Conflict and Communication
11:45 am – Mass
12:30 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Self Gift without Burnout: Practical Tools for Organization, Scheduling, and Time Management
5:45 pm – Vespers in Private
6:00 pm – Dinner on Own
In-person Module: "The Priest as Mediator and Preacher" - April 28 - May 2, 2025
This module provides transitional deacons with a valuable opportunity to refine key sacramental practices for celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacrament of Penance, while also fostering fraternity in preparation for their upcoming presbyteral ordination. The module will include conferences and workshops on a reverent ars celebrandi and homiletics.
Deacons are encouraged to arrive Monday evening for 6:00 pm Dinner and Social on Monday, April 28.
The Module will conclude with Mass at 9am on Friday, May 2.
Cost: $775 (all-inclusive, excluding transportation arrangements to and from NDS)
Ars Celebrandi & Homiletics
Tuesday, April 29
8:00 am – Lauds
8:15 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Conference: Ars Celebrandi – Part 1
11:45 am – Mass
12:30 pm – Lunch
Afternoon – Homiletics Workshop
4:30 pm – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
5:45 pm – Vespers
6:00 pm – NDS Closing Year Banquet
Ars Celebrandi & Sacramental Practica
Wednesday, April 30
8:00 am – Lauds
8:15 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Conference: Ars Celebrandi – Part 2
11:45 am – Mass
12:30 pm – Lunch
Afternoon – Live Mass and Confession Practica
4:30 pm – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
5:45 pm – Vespers
6:00 pm – Dinner
6:45 pm – Evening Session
Homiletics & Sacramental Practica
Thursday, May 1
8:00 am – Lauds
8:15 am – Breakfast
Morning – Homiletics Workshop
11:45 am – Mass
Afternoon – Live Mass and Confession Practica
4:30 pm – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
5:45 pm – Vespers
6:00 pm – Dinner on Your Own
Canonical Retreat: May 2-8, 2025
The canonical retreat for Presbyteral Ordination will take place at the Jesuit Spirituality Center in Grand Coteau, LA and will be preached by Fr. Michael Champagne, CJC from May 2 – 8, 2025.
Cost: $1,150 (all-inclusive, excluding transportation arrangements to and from Grand Coteau)
Questions and Contact Information
For more information, contact Fr. Andrew Gutierrez, Coordinator of Vocational Synthesis, at agutierrez@nds.edu.