19 men admitted to candidacy for the 2022 permanent diaconate class

On Aug. 11 at Mary Queen of Peace Church in Mandeville, Archbishop Gregory Aymond celebrated the admission of 19 men to candidacy for the permanent diaconate. The men are scheduled to be ordained in the spring or summer of 2022. There are several stages of diaconate formation: the inquiry-discernment phase, which began in 2017; the aspirancy phase; and the candidacy phase. The Mass was celebrated on the feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr. St. Lawrence was chief among the seven deacons who served the Roman Church during the mid-third century. The wives and families of the candidates attended the Mass.