Diaconate Ordination 2008

The North American College diaconate class of 2008 with Bishop William Callahan and other bishops

A couple of weeks ago the NAC community was privileged to celebrate probably its biggest week (in importance and in scope) of the year. On Thursday, Oct. 9, 25 men of the Fourth Year class were ordained deacons in Saint Peter's Basilica, including two from Arkansas, Dc. Edward D'Almeida and Dc. James Melnick. It was a great week, full of exciting and unique events, and I thought I'd fill everyone in, albeit a bit belatedly.

Diaconate week is the highlight of the NAC year. Visitors are, of course, always welcomed here, but between families, friends, and American pilgrims wanting to be present for the ordination, they come in droves in October especially. This year, for example, there were some 3000 guests that were present for some part of the week and attended the ordination Mass in Saint Peter's. The week kicks off with a Mass and reception here at the NAC for all visiting guests and continues with other events throughout the week as many families and guests use it as a chance to see Rome. The week culminates on Thursday with the ordination at Saint Peter's, and then the ordinands spend the weekends resting and visiting with their families.

Fresh off my retreat and having no real plans for the week, I volunteered to help the Diocese of Little Rock deacons-to-be with anything they needed help with. The first "job" was just spending a little face time with the many (over 100) people that had come in from Arkansas for the ordinations. On Monday evening I dined with a group of pilgrims from St. Joseph Church in Conway, and then on Tuesday evening I had dinner with another pilgrim group from Christ the King Church in Fort Smith. Both meals were very enjoyable and allowed me a nice chance to enjoy simultaneously fine Italian food and good Arkansan conversation. It was very evident how excited, if a bit overwhelmed, they all were to be in Rome and, at that, for the occasion of an ordination.

Pretty good seats, no?

On Wednesday I took a break from the diaconate activities and attended the papal audience in Saint Peter's square with my vocation director and a few friends from the Little Rock area. Thanks to Bishop Taylor, we procured some riparto speciale tickets, which are those that are on the same platform as the Holy Father. Arriving early to stake our claim in line, we were able to sit in the second row to hear Benedict deliver this reflection on how, in our personal relationship with the Lord, we can take as our example St. Paul who truly knew Christ, though they never met. Many of the deacons and their immediate families were also able to attend the audience -- a few even met the pope afterward -- and to them, the Pope said, "May the grace of Holy Orders enliven you to preach the Gospel of Christ with conviction and love." Although it was a warm day, and we were outside for quite a long time, it was great to get a little closer (physically and spiritually) to the Vicar of Christ.

I had a better one but it came out fuzzy! Argh.

On Thursday, the college hosted a nice luncheon for the student body, the deacon class, and their guests. After the banquet, we made our way to the basilica for the ordination itself, which took place at the Altar of the Chair, at the far end of the basilica behind the main altar. Bishop William Callahan, OFM Conv., the Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee and a former spiritual director at the college, presided at the Mass and ordained the new deacons. Even from my seat in the extreme rear, it was a very moving ceremony. Our New Man class and the Fourth Year men went on retreat the same week, and we were each given a member of the other class to keep in prayer for that week. Although I haven't yet gotten to know all of the Fourth Year men well, it was special to be present at the ordination of the men we'd been praying for just a week prior.

The ordinands processing to the Altar of the Chair.

Certainly, it was extra special for me to see two of my diocesan brother seminarians being ordained. If priesthood is the finish line we're all striving toward, diaconate perhaps marks the course's final turn. In many ways, it's all downhill from there, at least in terms of weighing one's options -- the promises of obedience, celibacy, and prayer are all made at the time of diaconate ordination. My friends' evident joy at giving their lives in service to the Church was inspiring. Just a step away now from priesthood, they are rightly clerics of the Catholic Church, capable of and responsible for imparting the faith to others, administering certain sacraments, ministering to the poor and underprivileged, and above all proclaiming and preaching the Word of God. It's always amazing to see and to participate in a ceremony where that kind of commitment is made, and indeed where an ontological change occurs -- that is, as in Baptism, a change in one's being, an indelible mark on the soul given by God at the time of ordination -- especially if one is preparing for such a change oneself!

Several of the priests of our diocese and our bishop were also able to make it to Rome for the ordinations, and so the happy occasions also gave me the chance to get to know them better as well. After the ordination ceremony, I attended a simple but lovely dinner held for Dc. James Melnick and hosted by the Little Sisters of the Lamb, who know him personally. The sisters live in very humble circumstances, in lodging provided gratis by the Vatican and connected with the Basilica of the Four Crowned Saints. They have few members, little money, are mostly foreigners (mainly French) and live hard lives teaching the Gospel and serving the poorest of the poor. Despite all of this, or perhaps because of it, they possess an irresistible charm and emanate with an infectious joy that is truly Christian in nature. I spent most of our dinner translating between the sisters and the American pilgrims, but I left very touched by these quiet, strong, prayerful women. I look forward to getting to know them better.

The next day was spent attending the Little Rock deacons' first Masses as deacons. James' was in the morning at the Altar of the Crib in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, while Eddie, as I mentioned before, had his in Assisi in the lower level of the Basilica of Saint Francis. It was a great week, full of blessings for all involved. Even in the few weeks since, the ministries of the new deacons have had a positive effect on the college, and I think we're all excited to know that these good men will soon be serving the people of their respective dioceses as priests back in the U.S. Please keep them in your prayers!

UPDATE: The fourth year men at my previous seminary, Saint Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, IN, were also ordained to the diaconate this past weekend. Included were several of my close friends from my time there. Congratulations to them and be sure to remember them in prayer as well!