In top photo, Bishop O’Connell is shown with newly ordained Deacon Quiambao, left, and Deacon Alescio. Mike Ehrmann photos
By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
It was nonstop smiles and even some tears of joy from the moment Nicholas Robert Alescio and Benedict Bien Quiambao arrived at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, for their Mass of Ordination to the Order of Deacon. Before the start of the May 16 Mass, the two men and their families each spent individual time with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., exchanging conversation and taking photos. When the Mass ended around noon the two new deacons shared their joy, receiving greetings and congratulations from well-wishers who had come from varying distances for the special occasion.
“The Ordination is an affirmation that the Lord is really calling me to work in his vineyard,” said Deacon Quiambao. Following almost nine years of seminary formation he said, “I have realized that it truly is not something I can ask for myself, but a gift from the Lord.”
PHOTO GALLERY: 2026 Transitional Diaconate Ordination
“Thanks be to God for the gift of life, vocation and Ordination!” he exclaimed.
“Being ordained to the transitional diaconate is the official ‘yes’ of the Church,” said Deacon Alescio. “It is the ultimate confirmation of a man’s priestly discernment.”
“Up until this point,” he continued, “I’ve leaned on the prudential judgement of my formators in addition to my own convictions regarding the call to ordained ministry. The certainty of Ordination, for me, is a great source of peace and consolation.”
Ordination as a transitional deacon generally occurs after a seminarian has completed several years of studies in theology and takes place usually one year prior to priestly Ordination. As transitional deacons, Rev. Mr. Alescio and Rev. Mr. Quiambao will spend the next year continuing studies in Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., and they will also have parish assignments. Deacon Alescio is assigned to Visitation Parish, Brick, while Deacon Quiambao will serve in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown.
Through the Ages
Bishop O’Connell explained to those gathered that the diaconate Ordination was part of an ancient order that dates to the earliest days of the Church.
“We recall the apostles who, 2,000 years ago, began the community of faith that is the Catholic Church,” said Bishop O’Connell, who was joined at the altar by some 40 priest concelebrants. Also in the pews were permanent deacons, seminarians and some men who are discerning a priestly vocation.
“The deacon enables the successors to the apostles [bishops] and those ordained to the priesthood to offer their apostolic ministry to the people of God in the proclamation of the Word, the liturgy of the Church and its works of charity. They stand close by the Bishop and his priest collaborators, not as bishops, not yet as priests, but as deacons” who are called “to serve and not to be served,” the Bishop said.
Adding that he doesn’t believe there are too many people seeking the job of servant in today’s society, he said, “You won’t find want ads for such a position in newspapers or online,” he said. “But the deacon does. And his job description has the word ‘servant’ at its very core.”
Presence of the Holy Spirit
As the Ordination Rite unfolded, the two men knelt before the Bishop and made promises of celibacy, obedience and fidelity to God and the Church. The Diocesan Festival Choir led in the singing of the Litany of the Saints as the men lie prostrate in the sanctuary, signifying their complete dependence on God. The Bishop then imposed his hands on each of their heads, conferring the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
With assistance from the priests they had selected, the new deacons were vested with a stole and dalmatic, the liturgical vestments that symbolize their ministry. Rev. Mr. Alescio’s vesting priest was Father Christopher Picollo, pastor of Nativity Parish, Fair Haven, while Rev. Mr. Quiambao’s vesting priest was Father Oscar Sumanga, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown.
The men then received the Book of the Gospels from the Bishop, who told them, “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”
During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the family members participated in the Presentation of the Gifts and the new deacons assisted with distributing Holy Communion.
An Awesome Day
For Rev. Mr. Alescio, the most moving part of the Mass was hearing the Responsorial Psalm, “Go out to all the world and tell the good news.”
“When I heard the verse, my first thought was that I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing just that,” he said.
Now ordained, he looks forward to preaching homilies, saying, “What an amazing privilege it is to bring the Good News of Our Lord to the world!”
Rev. Mr. Quiambao reflected on the moment when the Bishop laid his hands on the candidate’s head and prayed the Consecratory Prayer.
“It is the moment when the Church, through Bishop O’Connell, invokes the Holy Spirit to confer in me the grace for my ministry,” he said, adding that he looks forward to celebrating the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony, preaching, serving as a deacon in the Mass and serving the Diocese in any way.
Unwavering Support
Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan episcopal vicar for clergy and consecrated life and director of seminarians, offered testimony about “these two men who are going to give great service to the Diocese of Trenton. He noted that he’s observed how the two men have matured in their knowledge of the Catholic faith while in seminary and received high evaluations from their formators.
During their four years in college, Jack Ruddat recalled helping Nick, his roommate and good friend “to finding his way back to the faith” by answering questions he had about the Catholic Church.
“I wasn’t all that surprised when Nick said he wanted to be a priest; he was discerning priesthood in college. And today, it’s humbling to see Nick have the Sacrament of Holy Orders bestowed on him. I’m excited to see him be able to serve God that way.”
Rev. Mr. Quiambao’s parents, Angelica Bien Quiambao and Beda Mendoza Quiambao, spoke of the month of May being a very busy and exciting time for their family. On May 16, they were in Trenton for Benedict’s Ordination and on May 22, they will be in their native Philippines for their daughter’s wedding.
Best of all, said Angelica, is that her son will return home and serve as the deacon for his sister and new brother-in-law’s wedding Mass and witness their marriage vows.
“Today we have two more men for the Kingdom,” said Michael Lennox, a friend of both Nicholas and Benedict from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. “Two more men who are going to put their lives on the altar forever.”
