By Mary Stadnyk | News Editor

During a Mass held on the eve of Pentecost, May 18, the seven seminarians of the diocese who were ordained to the order of deacon by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., were reminded that they were “led by the spirit” to answer the call to serve God and their Church as future priests.

Through the imposition of hands, Bishop O’Connell ordained Rev. Messrs. John K. Butler, Carlo James Calisin, Rafael Enrique Esquen, Jean Renald Felicien, Augusto Lorenzo Gamalo, Jerome J. Guld and Mark Ronald Nillo in the presence of family, friends, seminarians, clergy and religious who gathered in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. Some 30 priests joined Bishop O’Connell at the altar, including priests from the diocese as well as representatives of Immaculate  Conception Seminary, South Orange; St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Pa., and St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, the three seminaries where the men had been pursuing their priestly studies. Ordination as a transitional deacon marks the final step for the men in their preparation for priestly ordination which is expected to occur next year.

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In his homily, Bishop O’Connell recounted that the origins of the diaconate are rooted in the Acts of the Apostles where the seven men – Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas – were called to meet the needs of ministering to the people of Jerusalem.

“You are the successors to those first deacons and I am the successor to the apostle who ordained those deacons,” Bishop O’Connell said.

Noting how from the very beginning the diaconate is a ministry of service, the bishop emphasized to the new deacons, “Yours will be a ministry of the Word, of the altar and of charity.”

 “To preach the Word, you must first hear it, read it and understand it. To minister well at the altar, you have to love the mysteries that are made present. To give charity, you have to have hearts that overflow with love for God’s people,” said Bishop O’Connell.

During the ancient ordination ritual, rich with symbolism and meaning, the seven men were declared worthy to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders by Msgr. Gregory D. Vaughan, diocesan director of vocations, and given the assent of the assembly. Having said yes to God’s call to the diaconate, the candidates made a commitment to celibacy in addition to making a promise of obedience to Bishop O’Connell and his successors. They then prostrated themselves before the altar for the chanting of the Litany of Saints, a most poignant moment in the ritual when all present pray for God’s mercy and the intercessory prayers of the saints for the soon-to-be transitional deacons.

The actual act of ordination occurred when Bishop O’Connell laid his hands upon the head of each candidate and silently prayed the prayer of consecration.

The new transitional deacons were vested with the stole and dalmatic, the garments of their order, before receiving The Book of the Gospels from Bishop O’Connell. With words of the ritual that resonate in the heart of deacons, Bishop O’Connell said, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”

At the conclusion of Mass, the new deacons were introduced recognizing the cultural diversity that comprised this year’s class: American, Filipino, Peruvian and Haitian. The congregation erupted in applause when it was announced that Rev. Mr. Felicien recently became a citizen of the United States.

At a reception following the Mass, Deacon Kenneth Motylinski of St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, reflected on his nearly 20-year friendship with fellow parishioner, Rev. Mr. Guld, and the privilege of vesting his friend at ordination.

While Rev. Mr. Gamalo’s family was not able to attend his ordination because they live in the Philippines, his “family in the United States” – parishioners from Nativity Parish, Fair Haven – were at the cathedral to show their support.

“We hired a bus to bring us here today,” said Lois Stieve, noting Rev. Mr. Gamalo’s willingness to make himself present in the parish and get involved in parish ministries.

“He is a very unassuming and quiet…holy man,” said Stieve.

Seated in the front pew as they waited for the ordination Mass to begin, Diane Smith and Lorrie Gratton of St. William the Abbot Parish, Howell, described their seminarian, Rev. Mr. Calisin, as being an “awesome, wonderful guy.”

“I know his heart is full of happiness,” said Smith, “and it makes me happy to know that he’s been called to serve and he’s answered that call in such a graceful way.”

Claire Butler reflected on how surprised she was when her son, John, announced he was changing careers from attorney to priesthood five years ago as he was nearing his 50th birthday.

She recalled having lunch with her son the day before his ordination, observing “how happy he seemed to be. He had such a peace about him.”