Diaconate Ordination

Diaconate Ordination Week

EXCERPT FROM MSGR. POWERS’S HOMILY AT THE SUNDAY FAMILY MASS

On Thursday, these men who will be ordained, will seem to be, in the eyes of the world, made less free, if not enslaved, by their promises of celibacy, prayer, and obedience. But the world does not understand true freedom. These men are, indeed, free. And the angels, especially the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, whose Feast we celebrate on Thursday, will assist them and share in their freedom. And so, if I may, a word about deacons, angels and freedom.

Deacons and angels have always had a special relationship in God’s plan. Throughout the history of Christian art, angels are often depicted wearing dalmatics because just as deacons assist at the altar, angels assist at the heavenly banquet. After the temptation in the desert angels came and ministered to Jesus, and the Greek verb used in Scripture is diakonoun, meaning angels “deaconed” to Jesus. And Scripture also tells us that, despite persecution, the face of St. Stephen, the deacon and first martyr, “was like the face of an angel.” But maybe the most important reason these men will stay close to the holy angels is this: when angels make a decision, it is once and forever, never to be changed, and in that decision, the angels are completely free. And so they will help these new deacons persevere in the promises they will make on the day of their ordination—promises that will make them free.

All of us here will witness something extraordinary in four short days. We will watch and pray as these 23 men lie prostrate in St. Peter’s Basilica, giving their entire lives in service to Jesus and his Church. And as we watch and pray, we will also rejoice, for we will know that they are free men: free to love and serve others; free to pray and intercede for the people of God; and free to minister within the ordered, hierarchical structure of the Church. And, after asking the prayers of the Mother of God, the first ones to whom we will turn and ask for intercession in the Litany of the Saints will be the holy angels, of whom Mary is Queen.

2022 CLASS OF DEACONS

Ordained in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter

Rev. Mr. Samuel Anderson Rev. Mr. Jared Clements Rev. Mr. Taylor Colwell Rev. Mr. Brent Durschmidt Rev. Mr. Justin Echevarria Rev. Mr. Ryan Glaser Rev. Mr. John Lado Rev. Mr. Zane Langenbrunner Rev. Mr. Joseph Lapeyrouse Rev. Mr. Nicholas Le Rev. Mr. Jose Lim Rev. Mr. Elder Maldonado Zavala Rev. Mr. Isaac Pecha Rev. Mr. Ben Pribbenow Rev. Mr. Matthew Prosperie Rev. Mr. Patrick Ryan Rev. Mr. Daniel Scanlan Rev. Mr. Matthew Schilmoeller Rev. Mr. Daniel Sessions Rev. Mr. Richard Sofatzis Rev. Mr. Kelby Tingle Rev. Mr. Krzysztof Tyszko Rev. Mr. Steven Vetter

Ordained in their Respective Dioceses

Rev. Mr. John Bilenki Rev. Mr. Timothy Courtney Rev. Mr. Alex Fry Rev. Mr. Joshua Hill Rev. Mr. Augustine Mang Rev. Mr. Oscar Marquina Romero Rev. Mr. Michael Nugent Rev. Mr. Raymond Pendleton