Ordained Diaconate ‘A missionary disciple of Christ’

Transitional Deacon Grzegorz Rapcewicz is congratulated by Bishop Sproxton and the congregation during his Ordination to the Diaconate.

Responsible for the Neocatechumenal Way in Australia, Toto Piccolo, welcomes guests to the Ordination.

12 AUGUST 2021 ORDAINED DIACONATE ‘A missionary disciple of Christ’

Redemptoris Mater Seminary’s, Grzegorz Rapcewicz, with family and friends watching online from afar, was joyously Ordained to the Diaconate at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton celebrated the Mass joined by concelebrants: - the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely VG, Seminary Rector Fr Michael Moore SM, Neocatechumenal Way Responsible Fr Tony Trafford and more than 30 priests of the Archdiocese.

It took Deacon Rapcewicz a few days to process the occasion of receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders while celebrating his 32nd birthday two days later.“During the celebration, I was a little bit nervous, but I was happy. The first step of diaconate ordination wasn’t only for me, but for the whole church in this Archdiocese. Everything is for the Church; this is what it is about: the service of God and of people,” he said.

His loved ones tuned in to view the live-streamed service, broadcast courtesy of the Archdiocesan Communications Office. “They were happy to see the ordination – even though they couldn’t be here, they prayed for me and said they were with me in spirit. It was assuring to see people come to support me from my Neocatechumenal Way communities and the parish of Osborne Park,” he added.

In his Homily, Bishop Sproxton said the ordination of a new transitional deacon was “truly a reason for rejoicing.”

“The Archdiocese receives the gift of yet another person who has heard the call of God and generously responded and was then chosen to begin a journey to test this call and be formed for service in the Church.

For Grzegorz, the journey continues through the passage of this ordination to his mission. His mission is to serve the People of God in this Church of Perth. Maybe he will later be sent to other churches as a gift from Perth to serve with a love for those people. How will he serve?”

Bishop Sproxton said he would serve by being a sign to others that the power of the Spirit can help us to conform to Christ, adding that his personal witness to the presence of the Spirit in his life was needed for the people of our day to hear.

“May the Spirit who has led Grzegorz to this ministry of service continue to grow in faith and be a missionary disciple of Christ. And may he be able to become for us all a model of Christian living that we will want to imitate,” offered Bishop Sproxton. Deacon Rapcewicz will continue to serve his ministry at the Osborne Park Parish for a period before becoming a diocesan priest.