Four New Deacons Called to Serve

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/7/01)

Called to worship by the Cathedral Handbell Choir, Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde ordained four men to the diaconate last Saturday, as diocesan priests, brother deacons, and the families of the ordinandi filled the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.

Bishop Loverde called the ordinandi, Edward R. Horkan, Jerome A. Magat, Keith M. O’Hare and Michael D. Weston, laborers in God’s harvest. As deacons they will "help the bishop and his body of priests as a minister of the Word, of the altar, and of charity."

After the Gospel reading (Mt 9:35-38), the candidates for ordination were presented to the bishop by Father Curtis Clark, director of the Office of Vocations, who testified that they had been "found worthy" of ordination.

In his homily, Bishop Loverde described the four men as the "visible and tangible" answer to the prayers of the diocese for vocations. He reminded them that in their new primary role of "serving others" they should keep as their model "Christ Jesus, who served others." He admonished them to "do the will of God generously."

As the candidates stood before the seated bishop, they were reminded that the order of deacons is a celibate state and were asked if this commitment was indeed a "free choice." Each of the candidates in turn knelt before the bishop, placed his hands within Bishop Loverde’s hands and promised to obey and serve the bishop in the discharge of his duties.

As the ordinandi then lay prostrate before the bishop, in "the ancient gesture of supplication and the dying of self," the cantor led the congregation in the singing of the litany of saints.

The candidates then knelt before the bishop who placed his hands on the head of each. Following the prayer of consecration, the assisting deacons came up to the altar to help the newly ordained to put on the deacon’s stole and dalmatic. The four men knelt in turn before the bishop, who presented them with the Book of the Gospels. Finally the bishop stood and extended the kiss of peace to each new deacon. The deacons present in the congregation then came up into the sanctuary to welcome the four into the order of deacons with a sign of peace.

The parents of the ordinandi presented the gifts during the Mass. A reception for the new deacons and their families followed in Msgr. Burke Hall.

Deacon Magat attends Mount. St. Mary’s Seminary. Both Deacon O’Hare and Deacon Weston are studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. Deacon Horkan is a student at the North American College in Rome.

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