ST. FRANCIS DE SALES DEANERY — Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr formally accepted 23 men as candidates for the permanent diaconate during a Mass at the Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary’s Seminary Dec. 5.

  

Spouses and family members were present for the liturgy, showing their support for the candidates, who are halfway through their first year of the three-year preparation program for the permanent diaconate. They will be ordained in 2013. 

Prior to the ceremony the candidates wrote letters to Archbishop Schnurr expressing their commitment. Their spouses also wrote letters in support of their husbands’ vocations. 

Barry Mersmann, director of the archdiocesan Office of the Diaconate, said, “I think it’s just wonderful that the archbishop acknowledges the men in this way and pledges his support and that of the church during their process of discernment.”