By Rose O’Connor | Correspondent

Four men. Four stories. And, God willing, four future priests.

On May 21, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., ordained four transitional deacons for the Diocese of Trenton; a joyful milestone in the journey to priesthood for Rev. Messrs. Roy Aris B. Ballacillo, Thomas John Barry, Jr., Michael A. Gentile, Jr., and Michael Kennedy.

To see photo gallery from the ordination, click here.

To see slideshow of the ordination, click here.

To view a video of the ordination, click here.

Before a gathering of loved ones and well-wishers in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, Bishop O’Connell welcomed the four new deacons and encouraged them to look to the Gospel for strength and assistance.

“The Gospel gives you good advice: live in his love and lay down your life,” stated the Bishop, adding, “It is God’s work that you commit yourselves to accomplish today.”

The Rite of Ordination began after the Gospel, as Father Dennis A. Apoldite, director of vocation recruitment and the Diocese’s House of Discernment, individually called each candidate to stand before the assembly and present themselves for Ordination by Bishop O’Connell.

Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly, episcopal vicar for clergy and consecrated life and director of seminarians, testified to the worthiness of the candidates to be ordained for service to the Church as deacons.

Ministry of the Word, of the Altar and of Charity

In his homily, Bishop O’Connell explained that the origin of the diaconate is traced back to the Acts of the Apostles, where Stephen, “a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, served the Church and was presented to the apostles and was prayed over, and they laid hands on him.”

The Bishop equated the four deacon candidates with Stephen and his fellow deacons.  Bishop O’Connell said, “Theirs will be a ministry of the Word, proclaiming and preaching and teaching. Theirs will be a ministry of the altar. Theirs will be a ministry of charity and care especially for the poor and neediest among us.

“To preach the Word you must first hear it. And read it and understand it. Never neglect the Word. Read it often. Pray often. To minister at the altar you must love the mysteries you will celebrate. The mysteries of being present – the mysteries of Christ. To give charity you must be men of deep and profound love. You must live in his love; you must be willing to lay down your life. Not necessarily by dying. But rather, by living what it is you are called to do.”

Following his homily, the four men declared their intention to assume responsibilities of the deacon and committed to celibacy and a spirit of prayer. They placed their hands in those of Bishop O’Connell as they promised their respect and obedience.

Those in attendance were invited to pray for those who were to be ordained as deacons. As the cantor began the Litany of the Saints, the four candidates prostrated themselves as a sign of complete dependence upon God.

Each of the new deacons was presented with the Book of the Gospels by Bishop O’Connell, who instructed them from the Rite: “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

 Filled with Joy

Following the Mass, the newly ordained greeted their family and friends and were happy to share their emotions as they prepare for this final year of ministry before being ordained to the priesthood.

Deacon Ballacillo said even though his family was joining him in prayer from the Philippines, he was still “very happy and thankful to God.

“It was excellent. This is the day that I’ve been waiting for. It’s not an end process for me, it’s a beginning. I’m excited and I’m looking forward to this new ministry,” Deacon Ballacillo said.

 “I am overwhelmed,” Deacon Kennedy said, as he greeted his family, many who traveled from Florida to attend the Ordination.

Anne Kennedy, Deacon Kennedy’s mother, shared, “I am so grateful to God for choosing Michael and am so proud of Michael for saying yes.”

 “I feel immense joy and peace that so many of my family and friends were able to make it on this special day. To see them here is really heartwarming,” Deacon Michael Gentile, Jr., acknowledged as he smiled for pictures with his family.

“I am very happy for him and I am glad he took his time,” Michael Gentile, Sr., spoke of his son.

“It was a long haul that led to the seminary. But he’s very happy. He’s found his faith and his home in central New Jersey.”

Patricia Mills recalled when her son, Thomas Barry, called and informed her of his decision to enter the seminary.

“His brothers and sisters just threw their hands in the air and thanked God,” she said with a laugh. “They were just glad he would be preaching to others and not just them anymore.”

She continued, “I love all of my children. But there was something special about Michael, a certain goodness.”

“He’s such a good man. He will be a good priest,” St. Joseph Sister Francis Mary, said of Deacon Barry, with whom she spent time serving in the prison ministry in Newark.

“I’m very overwhelmed.  Very blessed,” Deacon Barry said in between hugs and photos with family.