Directors & Formators
About Us
Directors of Deacon Formation and their associates have an important and sacred responsibility in selecting, forming, and sustaining deacons. This privilege requires formators to travel the path of intimacy with God because, as The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons (#118) reminds us, “the spiritual dimension of formation…constitutes the heart and unifying center of every Christian formation.” Your witness to intimacy with Christ makes a powerful and formative impact on new and seasoned deacons alike. To that end, the Institute for Diaconate Renewal (IDR) accompanies deacon formators like you in nurturing your interior life through contemplative, silent, directed retreats, along with other resources and consultations.
Be refreshed and renewed in your ministry of diaconal formation.
The Institute offers four-day, silent, directed retreats to give you an opportunity to join fellow deacon directors as you step away from the busyness of life and spend intentional time with Jesus Christ. The retreats are lead by Dcn. Stephen Miletic and Dcn. Mark Erste.
You’ll be strengthened through eucharistic adoration, lectio divina, the sacraments, and spiritual direction while listening to the Lord’s still, small voice in the silence of your heart. You’ll come away encouraged and rejuvenated, so you can better serve the faithful men you form and guide in the diaconate.
Retreat Details
Retreat information coming soon!
Why Four Days, Silent, Directed?
Four Days
• to decompress, enter a deeper self-awareness,
• to distinguish between God thoughts, our own, and those of the adversary,
• to track affective movements,to know and experience Christ the Servant’s heart, the source of Trinitarian love.
Silent
• to get comfortable with listening to our hearts,
• to recognize God’s heart,
• to hear God’s wordless message,
• to let his presence and love touch us,
• to let go of our interior noise,
• to allow God to embrace our hearts.
Directed
• orientation provided for silent prayer, interior listening,
• Mass, liturgical and private prayer, adoration, confession,
• two brief orientation sessions per day (morning, afternoon),
• two spiritual direction meetings,
• evening sessions–sharing the fruits
• private and communal lectio divina
• plus time for rest, relaxation, exercise, spiritual reading.
Past Speakers
We’ve hosted a comprehensive range of diverse and seasoned speakers to invigorate and rejuvenate our retreat guests. Watch their past talks here.
Fr. Donald Haggerty
Professor & Author
David W. Fagerberg
Theologian & Author
Dcn. James Keating, PhD
Director & Professor
“In the silence, I was able to hear God’s voice. I was refreshed and enlightened through contemplation and lectio divina. I came away from this retreat feeling both rested and invigorated by the Holy Spirit. This was the first retreat I have been on where I really experienced the presence of Christ.”
Dcn. Joseph Bell
Retreat Participant
Diocese of Reno