Day: June 9, 2011

	Bishop Robert C. Morlino receives the vows of candidate David Johannes during the Transitional Deaconate Ordination Mass on May 27 at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison. More photos can be found here. (Catholic Herald photo/Kat Wagner)

MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino ordained David Gabriel Johannes to the Order of Deacons during a Mass on Friday, May 27, in the chapel of the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison.

In welcoming those filling the chapel, Bishop Morlino said, “We give thanks as we receive the gift of David as a deacon from the Lord himself. We are grateful to David and his wonderful family. We are grateful to the priests and deacons visiting from Denver, including Msgr. Michael Glenn, rector of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary (which Johannes attends). We’re all family.”

Bishop Morlino also welcomed his brother deacons and priests from the Diocese of Madison, who made the “sacrifice and effort” to attend the ordination in this busy season of weddings .

At the beginning of the ordination rite, Monsignor Glenn testified that Johannes “has been found worthy.” Bishop Morlino then said, “Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose this man, our brother, for the Order of the diaconate.” People in the chapel offered their enthusiastic applause.

VERONA — As the sun set on St. Andrew Parish in Verona one Thursday night last summer, laughter was echoing through the city streets. Twenty young people — high schoolers, school teachers, seminarians, and the like — sat around a campfire in the parking lot reminiscing about the week they had shared together.

MADISON — Freedom is a “precious gift given into our safe keeping” and it shouldn’t be taken for granted, said Bishop Robert C. Morlino in his homily on Memorial Day.