Christ commissioned our father, St. Francis (deacon and religious), to “go and rebuild my Church.” Following that charism, Franciscan University of Steubenville has established the Institute for Diaconate Renewal (IDR), which seeks to renew the deacon’s interior life, that bond of love with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We recognize the important and sacred responsibility that directors of formation and their associates have in selecting, forming, and sustaining the deacon. This privilege requires formators to travel the path of intimacy with God. Their witness to intimacy with Christ makes a powerful and formative impact.
The IDR is about intimacy with the Servant Heart of Christ! This captures our vision for all deacons—nurturing the primacy of the interior life as a means of integrating human and spiritual growth, identity, and mission.