Archbishop Cordileone ordains five seminarians to the transitional diaconate

St. Patrick’s Seminary was bustling with excitement on September 28 as Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone ordained five men to the transitional diaconate. Leandro Calingasan and Emmanuel Gutierrez were ordained transitional deacons for the Archdiocese of San Francisco; Brother Mikhael Josip Maria of the Holy Cross and the Holy Name of Jesus for the Contemplatives of St. Joseph; and Maurice Tokay and Alphonse Tolenga for the Diocese of Tshumbe in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The ceremony of ordination to the transitional diaconate took place during Mass after the homily. The candidates were presented to the ordaining bishop, Archbishop Cordileone, by Father Mark Doherty, president and rector of St. Patrick’s Seminary & University. The candidates then made a promise to remain celibate for the sake of the kingdom of God,  maintain and deepen a spirit of prayer and celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours for the Church and the world, and respect and obey the archbishop and his successors.

The candidates then laid prostrate on the marble floor as the faithful prayed the Litany of Saints, symbolizing that the entire communion of saints is praying for the candidates upon their ordination. After this, the Archbishop laid his hands on each candidate and prayed over them. The candidates then returned to the front of the sanctuary and knelt down as the Archbishop prayed the prayer of ordination.

The newly ordained deacons returned to their seats to be vested for the first time assisted by two priests.  Once vested, the deacons again approached the Archbishop and he is handed the Gospels to them saying, “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

The Archbishop then greets the new deacons and the deacons greet each other as brothers in Christ.

The deacons then joined the Archbishop on the altar to assist in the celebration of the Mass.

In his homily, Archbishop Cordileone spoke of how the cup of suffering  is unique for each Christian. He said that each of the newly  ordained has a different path with different struggles and sufferings, but each are called to serve the people of God.

“My dear sons about to embark upon this path: you do so with the view, God willing, of eventually serving God’s people as an alter Christus… Do so always mindful of this day, always remembering the first step of service at table, the call to humble charity, which always draws souls into communion with our ever-loving Lord Jesus Christ,” said Archbishop Cordileone.

The ordination was followed by a celebratory reception at the seminary.

Photos: Colleen Hera