(Catholic Herald photo/ Kevin Wondrash)
MADISON — Filipe Alvial, James Leeser, Vincente Salas, and Jerry Zhanay were ordained to the Order of Deacons Friday, August 9, at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison.
Deacon Leeser is studying for the Diocese of Madison and is scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood next year in Madison, along with Deacon Scott Jablonski.
The other three men are from the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest and are returning to the University of Murcia in Spain to finish their studies. They will be ordained to the priesthood on Monday, Dec. 9, in Platteville.
Rejoicing in the Holy Spirit
At the beginning of the Mass, Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison welcomed the families of the future deacons, as well as his brother diocesan priests, deacons of the diocese, and other faithful in attendance.
He rejoiced in the fact the “Holy Spirit will do what only the Holy Spirit can do,” in changing the men right before the eyes of God and the faithful.
He thanked the families for their “great gift” of the future deacons.
Conforming their lives
During the bishop’s homily, he spoke about their roles as deacons to conform their lives to the example of Christ, respect and obey the bishop and his successors, and to live in the celibate state for the sake of the heavenly kingdom.
He called celibacy a “real sacrifice” and the “greatest proof of the existence of God.”
He added it “proves you are not your own property” and those who are called are “glorifying God with your body.”
He also spoke of the lifelong call to service for the ordained, saying those who love Jesus are “not social workers.”
The bishop said, “one doesn’t get tired and one doesn’t retire . . . you can’t get tired being in the image of Christ.”
Ordination ceremony
After the homily, the men made their promises to the bishop.
They then lay prostrate in front of the altar, as a sign of obedience and giving their lives to Christ.
During this time, the whole congregation sang the Litany of Supplication.
As the men rose from their prostrate positions, they approached the bishop one-by-one for the laying of hands and prayer of consecration.
They were then vested as deacons before kneeling before the bishop, who placed the Book of the Gospels in their hands, saying to each, “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, practice what you teach.”
The bishop and other deacons in the diocese greeted them with a sign of peace and welcomed them to the Order of Deacons.
Vocation directors thanked
At the end of the ceremony, Bishop Morlino recognized and thanked Fr. Paul Arinze for his work with the seminarians in the diocese. Father Arinze is the former diocesan director of vocations, now serving as the pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Beloit.
The bishop also welcomed Fr. Gregory Ihm, the new director of vocations who also serves at master of ceremonies for the bishop.