An inspiration to return to the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n
An opportunity to see Dad at his happiest \u2013 or have him home more often.<\/p>\n
These were among blessings that Saturday\u2019s ordination of permanent deacons bestowed on their family members, who came from as far away as Ghana and Los Angeles for the celebration.<\/p>\n
At Mass at St. Paul Cathedral Bishop McManus ordained the seven husbands and fathers: John N. Barton, Michael T. Chase, William M. Griffin, Colin M. J. Novick, Paul F. Pizzarella, Court J. Shields and Anthony J. Xatse. The bishop offered special thanks to their wives and families.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout the love and support you have given these men, they would never have made it to the altar,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Permanent deacons are clergy who are ordained to the ministry of service, not the ministerial priesthood, the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults says. They may baptize, proclaim the Gospel, preach, preside at funerals, assist at and bless marriages and assist the bishop or priest in the celebration of the Eucharist.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was amazing; it was breathtaking; it was so emotional,\u201d William M. Griffin Jr., 25, said of his father\u2019s ordination. He mentioned the beautiful procession and people coming together and the deacons\u2019 hard work, which he likened to his law school studies.<\/p>\n
He also praised the support of about 200 people who attended his father\u2019s Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Westminster Sunday, and beautiful notes even from those who don\u2019t know him well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really felt a sense of community over the weekend which I haven\u2019t felt in a long time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s kind of a relief,\u201d Tracy Novick said after the ordination of her husband, who at age 35 is the youngest a man can be ordained a permanent deacon. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that when their daughters, ages 3 to 7, asked what this would mean, she replied, \u201cWe\u2019re going to have Dad on Monday and Wednesday nights.\u201d (For the four-and-one-half years of training deacon candidates have classes twice a week during the academic year, explained Deacon Anthony R. Surozenski, director of the diocesan Office of the Diaconate.)<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was very special,\u201d Deacon Novick\u2019s cousin Erin Breen said of his ordination. \u201cIt was a wonderful, joyous occasion to have the family all together.\u201d She said she came in from Los Angeles, and her brother came in from Denver.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are celebrating back home today and I am here representing them,\u201d said Eric Agbezuge, who came from Ghana for the ordination of his uncle, Deacon Xatse, the Worcester Diocese\u2019s first African permanent deacon.<\/p>\n
Eleonora Tackey said she and two other family friends of Deacon Xatse, whom she knew in Ghana, came in from Virginia \u201cbecause he\u2019s special.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not easy to become a deacon,\u201d she said. \u201cWe came to give our support. Especially in a foreign land you need all the support you can get. Seeing you, he\u2019s encouraged that the journey he\u2019s taking is the right one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe massive support from the congregation really gladdened my heart,\u201d said Deacon Xatse\u2019s brother Peter Xatse. He said more than 100 members of the Ghanaian Catholic community in Worcester came.<\/p>\n
\u201cI liked the order; it looked so beautiful; I feel like coming back to the Catholic Church,\u201d said Ken Fiakofi, Deacon Xatse\u2019s nephew, a member of a local Pentecostal Church.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou feel like you\u2019re in the presence of God \u2013 what we are going to experience in the future, a rehearsal for what is to come after life.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Read more at the link. And welcome, brothers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Actually, it’s Worcester, to be precise. Just as in the days of the early Church, the diocese recently welcomed seven men into the diaconate. From the Catholic Free Press: An inspiration to return to the Catholic Church. An opportunity to see Dad at his happiest \u2013 or have him home more often. These were among…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":365,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deacons"],"yoast_head":"\n
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