Upon acceptance by the Archbishop of Santa Fe, the Inquirer will enter into Aspirancy. The Aspirancy period of two years is a time of intense discernment and the Aspirant will be introduced to diaconal spirituality and ministry. Challenged to grow in self-awareness, and take part in supervised pastoral experiences.
   Discernment for the diaconate begins on a personal level with an intuition that one is being called and then moves quickly to the community level -- his family, pastor, and the Archbishop are all part of the process.
   Since many permanent deacons are married, it is important to know that the Church places great value on the input of the Aspirant's wife and family in the discernment process. An applicant cannot be considered for the permanent diaconate without his wife's informed, written consent at each step. The same is true of the applican's pastor, who will be asked to recommend or not recommend the applicant from his parish. Also the community that we form -- with its own time of gathering and prayer -- is an essential component of listening to the voice of God.
   Finally, it is the Archbishop, informed by the admissions team, who selects deacon candidates for ordination and who determines in the Aspirant the presence of a call, the capacitry to fulfill it, personal readiness, and capacity to serve the Church.