By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

On May 17, the eve of the Fifth Sunday of Easter, before families, friends, fellow seminarians, clergy and religious, four men who have already devoted years of contemplation, study and service to the Trenton Diocese, were ordained to the order of deacon.

To view photo gallery on this story, click here.

Through a laying on of hands in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral Trenton, Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., ordained the Rev. Messers. John Edward Large; Jason Martin Parzynski; Jarlath William David Quinn, and Arian Hernado Wharff Galvis.

Upwards of 40 priests joined Bishop O'Connell at the altar including representatives of the seminaries where the four new deacons studied.

Ordination as a transitional deacon is the final step for the men in their preparation for priestly ordination expected to occur next year. It generally occurs after a seminarian has completed at least three years of study in theology and one year prior to priestly ordination.

Once ordained, the deacons become ordinary ministers of Baptism, 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 committed to becoming priests, they made a promise of celibacy.

Since the first days of the Church, when seven men – Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas – were called by God to meet the needs of the people of Jerusalem, it has traditionally been a ministry of service.

And, in a moving homily, Bishop O'Connell assured the men that they had been chosen by God to answer this ancient call.

“God takes the initiative,” the Bishop said, drawing on the words of the Prophet Jeremiah in the day's First Reading. “Before you were born, I set you apart –- but we must be open to his grace, to his presence within us and respond. God made us each and all...”

“Today,” the Bishop continued, “the Diocese of Trenton rejoices in four men whom God has 'set apart.' Created and loved by God, open to God's grace, responsive to his love, willing to be led by God to the place where God wants them to be, these four good men have presented themselves to the Church and to the Diocese for ordination to the diaconate as a final, transitional stage in their path to priesthood.”

“God says to them today, 'I knew you; I set you apart; I appointed you prophet; so don't be afraid: I have put my words in your mouth.' As deacons, they will share those words with us.”

He spoke of the fact that as transitional deacons, the four “bear a special responsibility” for the words God puts in their mouths through preaching and the proclamation of the Gospel.

“That was God's plan for them 'before they were born.' That is why he 'set them apart,'” the Bishop said. “And here is what will make their preaching bear 'fruit that will endure,'” he said drawing from the Apostle Paul's Letter to the Corinthians – the Second Reading of the day.

“We who are ordained deacons or priests or bishops, we do not preach ourselves,” the Bishop said, “but Jesus Christ as Lord.”

“We are his slaves, his servants, his 'ministers of mercy.' And the word we preach and the mercy we minister, we 'hold in earthen vessels' so that people will hear and see in us, not merely us, but, rather, the power of God at work in us... '

Following the Bishop's homily, the ordination ritual, redolent with meaning and rich in ancient symbolism, unfolded seamlessly as the four were declared worthy to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

After assenting to God's call to the diaconate, the four candidates made a commitment to celibacy and offered a promise of obedience to Bishop O'Connell and his successors.

A poignant moment came during the chanting of the Litany of the Saints when all present prayed for God's mercy and the intercessory prayers of the saints.

The actual act of ordination followed occurred with the laying on of hands upon the heads of the candidates by Bishop O'Connell who offered a silent prayer of consecration.

In the joyous moments that followed, the four new transitional deacons were vested with the garments of their order –- the stole and the dalmatic. Then they received The Book of the Gospels from Bishop O'Connell whose words, though spoken softly, seemed to resound through the vast reaches of the cathedral: “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”

At a reception following the Mass in the cathedral dining hall, priests and deacons who mentored the new deacons, as well as their family and friends shared their very apparent joy with the new deacons.

Deacon Michael Lonie of St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, who vested the Rev. Mr. Quinn, beamed as he spoke of how their friendship blossomed over the new deacon's yer of service in the parish.

“He's a kind, caring compassionate person,” Deacon Lonie said of Rev. Mr. Quinn.

“He brings an extra human touch to the ministry. He has a special humility. People are very drawn to him.”

Rev. Mr. Arian Hernando Wharff Galvis stood next to his mentor Father Dennis Apoldite, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish and coordinator of Sacred Heart House of Priestly Formation, both in Trenton. “He's just the best!” said Father Apoldite, who vested the Rev. Mr. Galvis. “He has such faith,” said Father Apoldite. “I'm honored he would ask me.”

For his part, Rev. Mr. Galvis said he was very moved by the ordination Mass and anxious to complete his fourth year so that he can be ordained a priest and serve the people of the Diocese as completely as possible.

Father Timothy Capewell, pastor of St. David the King Parish, West Windsor, said it was an honor to vest the Rev. Mr. Parzinski who has served at the parish before and will be fulfilling his diaconate year there. “I'm sure that he will be quite an asset. We feel very blessed and happy to have him,” Father Capewell said.

The Rev. Mr. John Large was greeting relatives and friends as his mother, Virginia, and grandmother, Ann Buscarello, expressed their feelings about his ordination. There was a bittersweet moment during the Mass, Mrs. Large confided, as the Diocesan Festival Choir under the direction of Shawn Mack, raised their voices in the lovely strains of “Lord, You Have Come.”

“The song was played at the funeral of my brother,” the mother of seven said. She described the moment as simultaneously sad and beautiful because though her brother wasn't there physically, she could sense his spirit.