Preparation for the diaconate typically consists of a four year formation program. The Byzantine Catholic Seminary’s School of Diaconate Studies has as its focus the intellectual pillar of formation while maintaining reference with the human, spiritual, and pastoral pillars.  The Seminary’s academic program is a certificate program that includes two weeks of intensive classes (6 hours of class per day) on campus in the month of June for each of the four years.  These classes are followed, each year, by a program of distance learning through guided reading and the writing of papers.  The on-campus program also includes meals and a full liturgical schedule (usually two liturgical services per day). The Seminary provides guidelines for pastors, mentors, and spiritual directors who provide for the remaining areas of formation as determined by the deacon student’s eparchy.

Entry into the program is every four years.  Individual eparchies handle the application process in a manner similar to that for priestly formation applicants.  By the 31^st of January, approximately four and a half months before the program begins at the Seminary, applications are due at the Seminary office from the sponsoring hierarchs’ vocations office.  Applications are not sent  to the Seminary by the applicant.  For deacon students the Seminary need not be sent the entirety of the application packet as its focus is the intellectual pillar of formation.  What the Seminary requires for the admissions of each deacon student is:

• Letter of sponsorship from the Ordinary;
• Completed Application/Information Form including name and address of assigned mentor (if not the student’s pastor) and name and address of the spiritual director;
• Photograph;
• Brief essay on diaconal ministry;
• Curriculum vitae;
• Academic transcripts;
• Documentation of Criminal Background and Child Abuse History Clearance; and
• Letter of Recommendation from the applicant’s pastor.

All of the above must be received in the Seminary office by the 31^st of January, approximately four and a half months before the beginning of a new program.  New programs begin every four years.

The 2023-2027 class of the School of Diaconate Studies meet at B.C.S. according to the following schedule:

• June 18 to July 1, 2023
• June 16 to 29, 2024
• June 15 to 28, 2025
• June 14 to 27, 2026.

Annual tuition, room, and board for the duration of the four-year program (2023-2027) is $3,100 (Tuition $2,000; Room $250; Board $850). This amount does not change in the course of a four-year program.  This covers:

• Room and board for two weeks (three meals Monday through Friday);
• Four classes per week;
• Access to all the instructors/professors throughout the year;
• Written responses from all the instructors/professors for all the work submitted throughout the year; and
• The use of all Seminary facilities (library, chapel, recreation facilities, etc.).

Billing is handled through a student’s sponsoring (arch)eparchy.  Each eparchy should receive its sponsored students’ bill by the end of June.  Deacon students are asked not to send money to the Seminary for their tuition.