At OCADL 2009 in Pembroke last summer, Deacon Bill Gervais presented the new Formation program for the Archdiocese of Kingston. The program makes extensive use of the S.T.E.P. (Satellite Theological Education Program) from the Institute for Church Life of the University of Notre Dame for the doctrinal dimension of formation. We have reviewed the program, and find that it corresponds well with the requirements of the “Basic Norms” document. As a service to our readers, we have posted this review for reference. You may download it by clicking here. The review consists of an independently derived comparison table of the coverage of the Kingston program versus the requirements of the Vatican document “Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons”, followed by explanatory footnotes.

If you are interested in having a similar comparison done for your program of doctrinal formation for the permanent diaconate, please send curriculum information details to the editor.

Kingston Archdiocese was one of several (Arch)dioceses which shared details of the ways candidates were selected, formed, and given post-ordination continuing education at the 2009 OCADL Convocation. We hope to publish soon more of the important information made available in the session presentations at this watershed meeting.