Parma Eparchy continues Deacon Training Program

ARNOLD, Pa. - St. Vladimir Institute opened its doors and started its fourth year of training men for the diaconate for the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma on September 20, 2002. The following day Bishop Robert Moskal ordained four men to the subdiaconate during the 5 p.m. divine liturgy at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church there. These men are the first to be ordained since the program began in 1999.

The men ordained subdeacons were Steve Aftanas from St. Vladimir's in Arnold, Pa., Jerry Ikalowych from Holy Trinity in Carnegie, Pa., Brother Gregory Madeya BHS from St. John's in Mckeesport, Pa., and Richard Wilhelm from St. Mary's in Apopka, Fla. They will be ordained Deacons next spring after completion of the four-year course of study.

St. Vladimir Institute admits new students every two years. The second class started in 2001 and a new class will start in September of 2003. Men who are interested in studying for the deaconate are welcome to contact the program director or talk with their pastor. The classes are held in Arnold the third weekend of the month from September to June each year. Both married and single men are welcome to apply.

The staff of the Deacon Training Program are all clergy and professionals of the Parma Eparchy and all volunteer their time to this program. The course of study includes canon law, homiletics, personality development, pastoral counseling, leadership training, catechesis, Old Testament, Synoptic Gospels, Gospel of John, Pauline Letters, Revelation, rubrics, liturgical music, liturgy, mysteries of initiation, eucharist, Byzantine theology, spirituality and ecclesiology, patristics, Holy Trinity, Church history, morality, Christology and Marian theology.

Those who request admission must be 35 years of age if married, 25 if single. They must have achieved a minimum of a high school diploma and have the ability to do advanced academic studies.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 5, 2003, No. 1, Vol. LXXI

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