Four men of the Diocese of Trenton will mark another step on their journey toward the priesthood when they are ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, May 17 at 10 a.m.

Ordination as a transitional deacon generally occurs after a seminarian has completed at least three years of study in theology and takes place usually one year prior to priestly ordination. As deacons, they will be ordinary ministers of Baptism, and will be able to preside at weddings, assist the priest at Mass, proclaim the Gospel and preach, as well as preside at wakes and funeral services.

As men who are committed to becoming priests, transitional deacons, make a promise of celibacy.

This year’s class of transitional deacons includes: Arian Hernando Wharff Galvis, John Large, Jason Martin Parzynski and Jarlath William David Quinn.

Arian Hernando Wharff Galvis

Arian Hernando Wharff Galvis says that he is happy to be in America, and to be preparing for the priesthood in the Diocese of Trenton.

And on May 17, he will take the next step on that journey when he is ordained a transitional deacon in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

Born December 26, 1977, in Puerto, Colombia, Wharff grew up in Nuestra Senora del Carmen Parish in his hometown. He is the son of Enrique and the late Adelida, and brother to Herman, 46, Alexis, 44, Mauro, 40 and Silvana, 30.

Wharff attended elementary school in Escuela San Pablo, Puerto, Colombia, and high school in Seminario Menor Apostolica Padre Vicentinos, Santa Rosa de Cabal, Risaralda. He received a philosophy degree from Seminario La Milagrosa Padres Vicentinos, also in Colombia.

Wharff arrived in the Diocese of Trenton in 2010 and continued his studies for the priesthood in St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, where he is pursuing a master of divinity degree.

His tenure in the Diocese of Trenton has included service in Sacred Heart House of Priestly Formation and Sacred Heart Parish, both in Trenton, as well as Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton. His hobbies include hiking, cooking and bicycle riding.

He will be vested as a transitional deacon by Father Dennis Apoldite, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton.

John Large

For Brooklyn, N.Y. native John Large, the road to the priesthood includes a pit stop, in the form of a seven-year stint he spent working various jobs and teaching in two Catholic schools.

On May 17, he will move closer to completing his priestly formation when he is ordained a transitional deacon in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

Large was born December 27, 1977, in Brooklyn to William and Virginia Large. He is the brother of Virginia, 41, William, 38, Annie, 37, Catherine, 33, and Mary, 33.

Growing up, he attended Catholic elementary school in Brooklyn before moving to Middletown and enrolling in Thompson Middle School. He went to high school in Middletown North before being accepted to a philosophy program in Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, in 2000. It was during his time at Franciscan that he completed the Pre-Theologate Program and began his priestly formation.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Large attended Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, South Orange, from 2005 until 2006, when he left formation for various jobs. Those included teaching for four years – one in St. Rose High School, Belmar, and three in St Gabriel School, Elmhurst, NY.

In September 2012, he returned to formation in the Theological College of The Catholic University of America, Washington. After his ordination to the transitional deaconate, Large will spend a final year in Theological College before he is expected to be ordained to the priesthood next year.

His summer assignments have included St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, and St. Dominic Parish, Brick. His hobbies include watching and playing sports, especially football, basketball and baseball. He also enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and camping, as well as reading and studying topics like theology, philosophy and history.

He will be vested during his ordination to the transitional diaconate by Father Jeffrey Kegley, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Middletown.

Jason Martin Parzynski

Seminarian Jason Martin Parzynski will be ordained to the transitional deaconate May 17 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

However, he is far from a stranger to the Diocese of Trenton.

Parzynski, a Michigan native, has served the Diocese as associate director in the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization, and most recently as Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.’s master of ceremonies. He credits his experiences as inspiring him to return to his priestly formation.

Parzynski was born in Chelsea, Michigan, Dec. 9, 1980, to Paul and Kathleen, and is the brother of Cheryl, 35, Rachel, 32 and James, 31.

While growing up, Parzynski was educated in the public school system in Shelby Township, Mich., and he holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and pre-law from Michigan State University.

Parzynski’s formation for the priesthood has included studies at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, where he was awarded master of divinity and bachelor of sacred theology degrees, the Pontifical North American College in Rome and the year-and-a-half he spent living in a Cistercian Monastery in Texas.

As he continued to discern his vocation, Parzynski gained parish experience working in St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orland Park, where he held multiple responsibilities as a pastoral associate and youth minister, also assisting with information technology and liturgy committees. Introduced to the Trenton Diocese through Father Michael McClane, whom he met in the seminary in Rome, Parzynski took a position as youth minister in St. David the King Parish, West Windsor, and was also hired in the Diocesan Chancery as associate director in the Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization. He worked in the two positions for about a year before he was asked to serve in his current role as secretary to Bishop O’Connell. He also serves on the diocesan New Evangelization and Technology Ad Hoc Committee.

He will be vested for the transitional diaconate by Father Timothy Capewell, pastor of St. David the King Parish, West Windsor. He expects to be ordained a priest next year.

His hobbies include reading, running, hiking, camping and playing racquetball.

Jarlath William David Quinn

Jarlath William David Quinn enjoys and appreciates “nature and the grandeur of God,” and has a fondness for the art of conversation.

And upon his ordination to the transitional diaconate May 17, he will have even more opportunities to indulge in those passions.

Born June 19, 1967 in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, Quinn was raised in Atlantic Highlands, where he attended St. Agnes Parish, which he regards as his home parish. He is the son of Gerard and Sheila Quinn, and the brother of Gerard, 48, Edel, 44, Kenneth, 42, and Siobhan, 38.

He attended the St. Agnes Grammar School, Atlantic Highlands, and later enrolled in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, before being accepted to the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, where he attended classes from 1990 to 1994.

He most recently attended St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, where he finished his coursework from 2002-2003 and earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities. Since 2010, he has pursued his studies in Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, South Orange.

As a seminarian, his summer assignments have included St. Dominic Parish, Brick (2011); St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Lavallette (2012); and St. Ann Parish, Keansburg (2013). Also a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1990, Quinn is currently serving a pastoral year in St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel.

He will be vested for the transitional diaconate by Deacon Michael Lonie of St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel.

His hobbies include hiking and kayaking, and he enjoys reading poetry and spending time with close friends.