Sixteen men called to candidacy in permanent diaconate
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Sixteen men were formally accepted as candidates for the permanent diaconate during a Mass celebrated by Bishop John M. Smith Sept. 19 in St. James Church, Pennington.
Coadjutor Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was principal concelebrant and homilist and other concelebrating priests in attendance included pastors of the new deacon candidates.
CLICK FOR PHOTO GALLERY
The Mass also provided the occasion for all of the deacons in attendance to participate in a “Recommitment Ceremony” which serves as a reminder of the ministry that they have been called to in service of Word, sacrament and charity and their promise of respect and obedience to the bishop of the diocese.
In the Rite of Candidacy, men are called to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders through three years of formal study. The rite ends a period of aspirancy for the men which began last year. During their Aspirant Year, the men seek to discern whether they are being called to the diaconate, learn what to expect in the four-year deacon formation program and more about the life of a deacon in general. Discernment continues throughout the formation program.
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell acknowledged Bishop Smith for “all of the love, guidance and support” that he gives to deacons of the diocese and to their wives and families.
“He has been a great source of encouragement and all of us in the diocese are grateful,” he said.
Bishop O’Connell told the congregation about having the opportunity to visit the chapel of St. Stephen in St. Peter Basilica during a trip to Rome in early September where “I wanted to pray for you, for your spouses, for your families.”
Bishop O’Connell spoke of the diaconate as being both “a ministry” and as “an order,” and said that both should “characterize your life, the life of your wife, the life of your family and the life of the community that you will serve as deacons.”
“Both must be exercised with a view toward truth, toward hope, toward love in a world, in a Church, in a diocese, in a parish and in a community that needs truth, hope, love and life so very much.”
Referring to the diocese’s large number of deacons, which is about 325, Bishop O’Connell said “our diocese needs not only to be the diocese with the largest number of deacons.”
“Our diocese needs to be a diocese with deacons who have the largest hearts,… the fullest souls,… the clearest minds,… the deepest sense of self and the most profound love for ‘him’ who has called you to follow him wherever he leads you.”
New deacon candidate James Gallagher of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, said that the Rite of Candidacy ceremony “meant a lot because I can now go on knowing that I’ve been accepted to continue the Lord’s work and I thoroughly believe he is calling me to become a deacon here in the Diocese of Trenton.”
“I’m with 15 other guys who are the greatest,” said Gallagher. “It is so wonderful to be blessed with this calling to be of service to the Lord in any way I can. He can use me in any way, shape or form. I’m open to whatever God wants of me.”
Deacon Jose Rodriguez, who was ordained in 2005, and is assigned to St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, said it was meaningful for him to participate in the Rite of Recommitment ceremony and renew his promise of service.
Deacon Rodriguez commented on how “impressed” he was with Bishop O’Connell’s homily and how he “called us to be more spiritual, to continue to study the Word of God and explore and expand our own spirituality.”
Bishop O’Connell emphasized that it is not only important “for us (deacons) to read the Word but to be people who immerse themselves in the Word,” Deacon Rodriguez said, and that means that “we have to know what the Church teaches so that we can teach it.”
Deacon Rodriguez then offered his support and prayers to the 16 new deacon candidates.
“While I was watching the Rite of Candidacy, I thought back to when I started this ministry which seems so long ago – It’s been nine years already.”
“I was proud of those guys,” Deacon Rodriguez added. “It reminded me of how God continues to call me and how I have to continue focusing on what God is asking me to do.”
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Sixteen men were formally accepted as candidates for the permanent diaconate during a Mass celebrated by Bishop John M. Smith Sept. 19 in St. James Church, Pennington.
Coadjutor Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was principal concelebrant and homilist and other concelebrating priests in attendance included pastors of the new deacon candidates.
CLICK FOR PHOTO GALLERY
The Mass also provided the occasion for all of the deacons in attendance to participate in a “Recommitment Ceremony” which serves as a reminder of the ministry that they have been called to in service of Word, sacrament and charity and their promise of respect and obedience to the bishop of the diocese.
In the Rite of Candidacy, men are called to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders through three years of formal study. The rite ends a period of aspirancy for the men which began last year. During their Aspirant Year, the men seek to discern whether they are being called to the diaconate, learn what to expect in the four-year deacon formation program and more about the life of a deacon in general. Discernment continues throughout the formation program.
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell acknowledged Bishop Smith for “all of the love, guidance and support” that he gives to deacons of the diocese and to their wives and families.
“He has been a great source of encouragement and all of us in the diocese are grateful,” he said.
Bishop O’Connell told the congregation about having the opportunity to visit the chapel of St. Stephen in St. Peter Basilica during a trip to Rome in early September where “I wanted to pray for you, for your spouses, for your families.”
Bishop O’Connell spoke of the diaconate as being both “a ministry” and as “an order,” and said that both should “characterize your life, the life of your wife, the life of your family and the life of the community that you will serve as deacons.”
“Both must be exercised with a view toward truth, toward hope, toward love in a world, in a Church, in a diocese, in a parish and in a community that needs truth, hope, love and life so very much.”
Referring to the diocese’s large number of deacons, which is about 325, Bishop O’Connell said “our diocese needs not only to be the diocese with the largest number of deacons.”
“Our diocese needs to be a diocese with deacons who have the largest hearts,… the fullest souls,… the clearest minds,… the deepest sense of self and the most profound love for ‘him’ who has called you to follow him wherever he leads you.”
New deacon candidate James Gallagher of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, said that the Rite of Candidacy ceremony “meant a lot because I can now go on knowing that I’ve been accepted to continue the Lord’s work and I thoroughly believe he is calling me to become a deacon here in the Diocese of Trenton.”
“I’m with 15 other guys who are the greatest,” said Gallagher. “It is so wonderful to be blessed with this calling to be of service to the Lord in any way I can. He can use me in any way, shape or form. I’m open to whatever God wants of me.”
Deacon Jose Rodriguez, who was ordained in 2005, and is assigned to St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, said it was meaningful for him to participate in the Rite of Recommitment ceremony and renew his promise of service.
Deacon Rodriguez commented on how “impressed” he was with Bishop O’Connell’s homily and how he “called us to be more spiritual, to continue to study the Word of God and explore and expand our own spirituality.”
Bishop O’Connell emphasized that it is not only important “for us (deacons) to read the Word but to be people who immerse themselves in the Word,” Deacon Rodriguez said, and that means that “we have to know what the Church teaches so that we can teach it.”
Deacon Rodriguez then offered his support and prayers to the 16 new deacon candidates.
“While I was watching the Rite of Candidacy, I thought back to when I started this ministry which seems so long ago – It’s been nine years already.”
“I was proud of those guys,” Deacon Rodriguez added. “It reminded me of how God continues to call me and how I have to continue focusing on what God is asking me to do.”
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