In solemn ceremony, Bishop O'Connell ordains 13 permanent deacons
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, was filled with relatives, friends and clergy who were on hand to witness the ordination of 13 permanent deacons by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., May 10.
To see photo galleries on this story, click here and here.
To read about the newly ordained deacons, click here.
“We come for a holy purpose: to ordain these 13 men – your husbands, your fathers, your relatives and friends – to the order of deacon,” said Bishop O’Connell.
“They have prayed and listened and learned what that order means and what it requires of them...The story of the Church’s deacons over the centuries is a rich and profound one but a theme ties that story together over these many, many years. The deacon enables the successors to the apostles 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 collaborators, the priests – not as bishops, not as priests, but as deacons – to serve and not to be served.”
The new deacons and the parishes to which they are assigned are: Christopher H. Chandonnet, St. Joseph, Millstone Township; Timothy R. Collins, St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford; Richard D. Coscarelli, Ascension, Bradley Beach; Gregory J. Costa, St. Raphael-Holy Angels, Hamilton; Philip T. Craft, St. Pius X, Forked River; Peter F. Downing, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Whiting; Joseph F. Gili, St. Pius X, Forked River; Richard J. Hobson, St. James, Pennington; John R. Isaac, St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square; Christian Knoebel, St. Monica, Jackson; Sean McMahon, St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford; Daniel C. Sakowski, St. Catherine of Siena, Farmingdale; Steven A. Wagner, St. Mary, Barnegat.
Among the priests to concelebrate the Mass with the Bishop included the pastors and parochial vicars from the 13 deacon-candidates’ home parishes as well as Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia; Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life, and cathedral staff.
Ordained deacons of the diocese assisted at the altar and many of the newly ordained deacons’ wives took part in the celebration as readers, gift bearers and servers.
Kathleen Chandonnet, wife of deacon candidate Christopher H. Chandonnet and Mary Ann Isaac, wife of Deacon John R. Isaac, proclaimed the readings. Deacon Lawrence Finn, associate director of the diocesan Office of Clergy Personnel and Consecrated Life, presented the candidates to Bishop O’Connell, calling them each by name. Each answered with an enthusiastic “Present!”
Msgr. Mullelly testified that the men were prepared to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders and assume the responsibilities of the diaconate. Bishop O’Connell, in the name of the entire Church, accepted this testimony and the congregation signaled its approval with a round of applause.
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell reminded the soon-to-be ordained deacons that the “order of deacon is not primarily about doing things” but that the “deacon responds to a call to be deeply, personally united to Jesus Christ who serves, to deeply, personally represent in a visible way Jesus Christ who serves, to take the whole of his life – his marriage, his family, his profession – a deeply personal witness to Jesus Christ who serves.”
“In this ordination, all of these things become a ministry for and with Jesus Christ who serves,” said Bishop O’Connell.
“The deacon shares in the ministry of the Word – the truth that is the origin and the goal of all who believe. The deacon shares in the ministry of the altar – helping others lift their minds and hearts to God. The deacon shares in the ministry of charity – which is the only thing that endures.”
As the candidates came forward, the Bishop asked them whether they were willing to accept the responsibilities of the ministry: to live in humble charity; to hold fast to the mystery of the faith; to celebrate the liturgy of hours with and for the people of God, and to maintain and deepen their prayer lives. To each question, the candidates responded “I do.”
Placing their hands in Bishop O’Connell’s, each candidate made a promise to the Bishop and his successors. As an unmarried candidate, Collins was also required to make a promise of celibacy.
The Bishop told the men, “May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”
Lining up single file in the center aisle, the candidates prostrated themselves, face down, showing their dependence on God, as the Diocesan Festival Choir and congregation prayed the Litany of Saints, asking God to bless the candidates.
The candidates then knelt before the Bishop who, in silence, laid his hands on each man’s head and prayed for an outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, thereby administering the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Each of the men was vested in the diaconate vestments -- stole (worn over the left shoulder) and dalmatic (the long, wide-sleeved tunic) by the sponsoring pastors, along with the deacon’s wife or other family member.
The presentation of the Book of the Gospels followed in which each deacon placed his hand on the book while Bishop O’Connell instructed them to: “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”
The rite of ordination concluded with the sign of peace given to each newly ordained deacon by Bishop O’Connell and other deacons present. The Mass continued with newly ordained Deacon Wagner serving as Deacon of the Eucharist.
Following the Mass, a jubilant Deacon Collins extended gratitude to his family for their support over the past four years, as well as to the deacons who currently serve in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish for their insight on the diaconate and Msgr. James H. Dubell, pastor, who initially approached him about seriously considering a vocation.
Eighteen-year-old Samantha Costa reflected how “nice and special” it was to see her father’s hard work come to fruition with ordination.
“It was like he was back in school” for the past four years with all of the homework and writing papers, Costa said, then added how she has seen her father, Gregory Costa of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, grow in his knowledge and love of the Catholic faith.
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By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, was filled with relatives, friends and clergy who were on hand to witness the ordination of 13 permanent deacons by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., May 10.
To see photo galleries on this story, click here and here.
To read about the newly ordained deacons, click here.
“We come for a holy purpose: to ordain these 13 men – your husbands, your fathers, your relatives and friends – to the order of deacon,” said Bishop O’Connell.
“They have prayed and listened and learned what that order means and what it requires of them...The story of the Church’s deacons over the centuries is a rich and profound one but a theme ties that story together over these many, many years. The deacon enables the successors to the apostles 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 collaborators, the priests – not as bishops, not as priests, but as deacons – to serve and not to be served.”
The new deacons and the parishes to which they are assigned are: Christopher H. Chandonnet, St. Joseph, Millstone Township; Timothy R. Collins, St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford; Richard D. Coscarelli, Ascension, Bradley Beach; Gregory J. Costa, St. Raphael-Holy Angels, Hamilton; Philip T. Craft, St. Pius X, Forked River; Peter F. Downing, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Whiting; Joseph F. Gili, St. Pius X, Forked River; Richard J. Hobson, St. James, Pennington; John R. Isaac, St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square; Christian Knoebel, St. Monica, Jackson; Sean McMahon, St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford; Daniel C. Sakowski, St. Catherine of Siena, Farmingdale; Steven A. Wagner, St. Mary, Barnegat.
Among the priests to concelebrate the Mass with the Bishop included the pastors and parochial vicars from the 13 deacon-candidates’ home parishes as well as Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia; Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life, and cathedral staff.
Ordained deacons of the diocese assisted at the altar and many of the newly ordained deacons’ wives took part in the celebration as readers, gift bearers and servers.
Kathleen Chandonnet, wife of deacon candidate Christopher H. Chandonnet and Mary Ann Isaac, wife of Deacon John R. Isaac, proclaimed the readings. Deacon Lawrence Finn, associate director of the diocesan Office of Clergy Personnel and Consecrated Life, presented the candidates to Bishop O’Connell, calling them each by name. Each answered with an enthusiastic “Present!”
Msgr. Mullelly testified that the men were prepared to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders and assume the responsibilities of the diaconate. Bishop O’Connell, in the name of the entire Church, accepted this testimony and the congregation signaled its approval with a round of applause.
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell reminded the soon-to-be ordained deacons that the “order of deacon is not primarily about doing things” but that the “deacon responds to a call to be deeply, personally united to Jesus Christ who serves, to deeply, personally represent in a visible way Jesus Christ who serves, to take the whole of his life – his marriage, his family, his profession – a deeply personal witness to Jesus Christ who serves.”
“In this ordination, all of these things become a ministry for and with Jesus Christ who serves,” said Bishop O’Connell.
“The deacon shares in the ministry of the Word – the truth that is the origin and the goal of all who believe. The deacon shares in the ministry of the altar – helping others lift their minds and hearts to God. The deacon shares in the ministry of charity – which is the only thing that endures.”
As the candidates came forward, the Bishop asked them whether they were willing to accept the responsibilities of the ministry: to live in humble charity; to hold fast to the mystery of the faith; to celebrate the liturgy of hours with and for the people of God, and to maintain and deepen their prayer lives. To each question, the candidates responded “I do.”
Placing their hands in Bishop O’Connell’s, each candidate made a promise to the Bishop and his successors. As an unmarried candidate, Collins was also required to make a promise of celibacy.
The Bishop told the men, “May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”
Lining up single file in the center aisle, the candidates prostrated themselves, face down, showing their dependence on God, as the Diocesan Festival Choir and congregation prayed the Litany of Saints, asking God to bless the candidates.
The candidates then knelt before the Bishop who, in silence, laid his hands on each man’s head and prayed for an outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, thereby administering the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Each of the men was vested in the diaconate vestments -- stole (worn over the left shoulder) and dalmatic (the long, wide-sleeved tunic) by the sponsoring pastors, along with the deacon’s wife or other family member.
The presentation of the Book of the Gospels followed in which each deacon placed his hand on the book while Bishop O’Connell instructed them to: “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”
The rite of ordination concluded with the sign of peace given to each newly ordained deacon by Bishop O’Connell and other deacons present. The Mass continued with newly ordained Deacon Wagner serving as Deacon of the Eucharist.
Following the Mass, a jubilant Deacon Collins extended gratitude to his family for their support over the past four years, as well as to the deacons who currently serve in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish for their insight on the diaconate and Msgr. James H. Dubell, pastor, who initially approached him about seriously considering a vocation.
Eighteen-year-old Samantha Costa reflected how “nice and special” it was to see her father’s hard work come to fruition with ordination.
“It was like he was back in school” for the past four years with all of the homework and writing papers, Costa said, then added how she has seen her father, Gregory Costa of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, grow in his knowledge and love of the Catholic faith.
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