New Cohort Diaconate Formation

BY DEACON JOHN HUST

I am pleased to announce that we are beginning a new group of men who will begin the formation and discernment process for the Permanent Diaconate for the Winona-Rochester Diocese. When Bishop Barron was appointed our Ordinary, he asked us to move forward with recruitment and begin the application process for a new class. The Diaconate program is five years in length with the first two years called Aspirancy and the last three years Candidacy. Entrance into a diaconate program does not ensure Ordination. It is a discernment process for the aspirant himself, his wife if married, his family, his pastor and the Church.

Members of the diaconate formation team are Fr. Andy Beerman (Director of Formation), Fr. Andy Vogel (Director of Spiritual Formation), Deacon John Kluzny (Director of Pastoral Formation), Deacon Scott Schwalbe (Assistant Director of Diaconate) and me (Director of Diaconate). The formation process involves one weekend a month beginning Friday evening and goes on till late Saturday afternoon. The sessions are typically September through June. The wives of the Aspirants are highly encouraged to attend the weekend with their husbands.

The following men have been recommended by Bishop Barron for beginning the formation process:

Justin Carlin (St. Pius, Rochester)

Tim Clements (St. John Vianney, Fairmont)

Arlo Drees (Queen of Angels, Austin)

Mark Engesser (Sacred Heart, Adams)

Tim Gossman (St. Mary’s, Chatfield)

Joe Mytych (Holy Spirit, Rochester)

Brian Zogg (St. Theodores, Albert Lea)

We have two additional men who are finishing up the application and interview process who may be accepted to formation also.

Please keep these men and their families in your prayers as they and the Church discern their call to a diaconate vocation.

Deacon John Hust is the Director of the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.