Parish sponsorshipIn Brisbane, before an applicant is accepted into the diaconate formation programme, he must have gained the sponsorship of either a parish or a deanery, or some other diocesan agency. Sponsorship is sealed by a memorandum of understanding entered into by the applicant and the sponsoring body. According to this agreement, the sponsoring body, normally the parish, agrees to support the aspirant during his formation period, including the payment of fees incurred in his academic formation, while he in turn contracts on the occasion of his ordination to serve as a Deacon in that parish/agency for an agreed upon number of years. At the same time it must be emphasised that the Deacon is ordained for the diocese, not the parish. It is understood that the ordained Deacon is at the disposal of the bishop, who may request that he minister in an area of need outside the parish setting.
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