Seven seminarians are scheduled to be ordained deacons by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge April 26. They will be assigned to parishes this summer and will return to seminary for another year before the 2026 ordination to the priesthood.
To watch the livestream, go to youtube.com/watch?v=C2W4G0r14Ug.
Jim Harbour, YA
Age: 29
Hometown: Manassas
Parish: All Saints Catholic Church, Manassas
Parents: Mark and Ileana Harbour
Siblings: Two older sisters Julie and Melyssa, one younger brother John, and one younger sister Rachel
Education: Seton High School, Manassas, 2009-13; Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, 2013-15; Marymount University, Arlington, 2015-17, bachelor’s in psychology
Seminary: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., 2020-present, expected degrees: master’s in divinity and moral theology
Summer assignments: St. Ambrose Church, Annandale, 2021; Holy Trinity Church, Gainesville, 2022; Holy Family Church, Dale City, 2023; and Spanish immersion in Guatemala, 2024
What brought you to seminary? I first felt the call in line for confession many years ago during my freshman year of college. I was so grateful to God for his forgiveness and mercy that I desired to extend that gift to his people on his behalf through the sacrament of penance. Since then, I have been on a long journey of discernment. I joined the Youth Apostles community, making consecrated promises, and all throughout drawing closer to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. In 2020, after three years as a consecrated brother in Youth Apostles, I was accepted by the bishop as a seminarian of the Arlington diocese.
Favorite Bible quote: Luke 1:38 — “And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.” The Blessed Mother has been a perpetual example in my life of doing what the Lord has commanded me to do with peace and joy.
Hobbies: Podcasts of all kinds. Living in Northern Virginia, I do a lot of driving and sitting in traffic. The time feels much better spent when I have something good to listen to.
Favorite family or cultural tradition: Every year on New Year’s Eve, my extended family on Dad’s side gathers in Kentucky to celebrate the new year. We decorate my grandparents’ home, serve delicious food and fire off huge fireworks after we watch the ball drop on TV in New York City. Typically, we put a movie on after midnight to wind down the night.
Donghan Stan Lee
Age: 28
Place of birth: Seoul, South Korea
Parish: St. Paul Chung, Fairfax
Parents: SookYeol Yu and SungTae Lee
Siblings: One younger brother
Education: Centreville High School, 2011-15; Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, 2015-19, bachelor’s degree in psychology
Seminary: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., 2020-present
Summer assignments: St. John the Apostle Church, Leesburg, 2021; Institute for Priestly Formation, Omaha, Neb., 2022; St. Louis Church, Alexandria, 2023; Spanish immersion in Guatemala, 2024
Tell us something about seminary. During my time in seminary, I learned about a priest who gave everything to the people of God, Blessed Stanley Rother. He was a martyr who provided (for) all the physical and spiritual needs of the people in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. Out of a desire to become more like him, I have taken Stan as a middle name.
Favorite Bible quote: John 2:5 — “Do whatever he tells you.” Mother Mary has been a great support during my time in her seminary. I realized I needed more discipline in my life, so I went to the grotto behind the seminary and asked Mother Mary to be my mother in the seminary and help me with it. “Do whatever he tells you.” I often imagine myself as a servant who hears this command.
Hobbies: Listening to music, cooking and playing some video games
Favorite family or cultural tradition: My favorite tradition is Korean age. Newborn babies are considered to be 1 year old because of the time spent in their mother’s womb. Although it is 9 months spent, it is rounded up. Everyone ages together Jan. 1. My birthday is Dec. 31, so I was 2 years old on my second day after birth.
What have you been doing to prepare for diaconate ordination? Placing a stole in a prominent place in my room to remind myself more often of the diaconate. This practice increased my awareness of the seriousness of the responsibilities I will receive.
Sean Mazary, YA
Age: 31
Hometown: Newport News
Parish: Holy Trinity Church, Gainesville
Parents: Dave and Eileen Mazary
Siblings: One older brother, one older sister, one younger sister
Education: Menchville High School, Newport News, 2007-11; Old Dominion University, Norfolk, 2011-15, bachelor’s in business administration
Seminary: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., 2020-present
Summer assignments: St. Lawrence Church, Alexandria, 2021; All Saints Catholic Church, Manassas, 2022; St. John Neumann Church, Reston, 2023; and Spanish immersion in Guatemala, 2024
What brought you to seminary? I was first attracted to the priesthood when I saw my college chaplain “in action” at our campus ministry. The Lord slowly drew me toward being open to considering whether this life was for me, and I eventually said yes. I became temporarily consecrated in my community, Youth Apostles, to continue discerning the priesthood within the community and within Arlington. Two years into the consecrated life, I continued following the Lord’s call and began seminary.
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? I am excited to be able to start blessing religious articles and blessing people with the Blessed Sacrament during eucharistic adoration. God has given me so many graces, unworthy as I am, and I look forward with joy to being an instrument to share his graces with others.
Favorite Bible quote: John 6:68 — “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Hobbies: Reading, disc golf, board games, cooking and spending time outdoors
Favorite family or cultural tradition: Now that my siblings and I are adults, my favorite new tradition is simply the times we are able to spend together with just the four of us.
What’s been your favorite part of seminary so far? The sense of community amongst the seminarians.
Eric McDade, YA
Age: 49
Hometown: Catonsville, Md.
Parish: St. Mark Church, Vienna
Parents: Tom and Becky McDade
Siblings: One younger sister, Meghan
Education: Catonsville High School, Catonsville, Md., 1990-94; William and Mary, Williamsburg, 1994-98; bachelor’s in economics
Seminary: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., 2020-present
Summer assignments: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Lake Ridge, 2021; St. Joseph Church, Herndon, 2022; All Saints Catholic Church, Manassas, 2023; Spanish immersion in Guatemala, 2024
What brought you to seminary? I have long been involved in Youth Apostles, a community dedicated to doing good youth ministry. On a retreat, I sensed that God was calling me toward the priesthood. This prompted me to apply to seminary and pursue the priesthood. My seminary experiences have confirmed my sense that God is calling me to be a priest.
I tend to think of priesthood as helping foster a bridge between our day-to-day lives and the great, supernatural love that God has for us. Functionally, much of this bridging takes place through the sacraments; the priest brings the sacraments to the people. But another important aspect is the witness of the priest’s life. The way the priest lives their life can serve as a bridge. I have been privileged to know many happy, good, fun, effective priests. The way they live their lives attracts people to God and his church. I think God is calling me along a similar path.
Favorite Bible quote: John 6:20 — “It is I, do not be afraid.”
Hobbies: I enjoy following my hometown Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles. I have some cooking skills, and enjoy a good, relaxed meal. I enjoy spending time with friends and family. I enjoy exercising; I like skiing and biking when the opportunities present themselves.
What have you been doing to prepare for diaconate ordination? I’ve been familiarizing myself with some of different rites connected to the diaconate. For example, my role as a deacon serving at Mass will look a little different than it has as a layperson. Of course, prayer plays an important role in preparing as well.
Alexander Solsma
Age: 36
Hometown: Sioux City, Iowa
Parish: Basilica of St. Mary, Alexandria
Parents: James and Kelli Solsma
Siblings: A younger sister, Jaden, and a younger brother, Trenton
Education: Bishop Heelan High School, Sioux City, Iowa, 2007; University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 2011, bachelor’s degrees in political science, journalism and mass communication, minor in history
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Lower Gwynedd, Pa., 2021-present
Summer assignments: St. Ambrose Church, Annandale, 2022; Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., 2023; Spanish immersion in Guatemala, 2024
What brought you to seminary? An interior inclination that God was inviting me to discern the priesthood is what brought me to the seminary. Pope Francis once said that if someone senses that invitation, that “it is Jesus who has placed it there. Pay attention to this invitation and pray that it might grow and bear fruit for the whole church.” The time of discernment and preparation as a seminarian permits me to do that. The Institute of Priestly Formation program at Creighton University was especially helpful and beneficial to me.
Favorite Bible quote: Hebrews 13:7-8 — “Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
I love this quote because it touches on the gratitude I have for the people who have passed on the Catholic faith to me, beginning with my parents. I am thankful for the people who have done that in my life, and I will do my best to imitate their faith as I serve as a deacon.
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, reading, running, cycling, going to sporting events (college football and basketball are my favorite), traveling, visiting churches and historic sites, and watching classic movies
What stands out about the Arlington diocese? I was director of communications at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria from 2018 until I entered the seminary in 2021, and had worked in news and sports radio in Iowa and Wisconsin before moving to Virginia. The diocese is very vibrant, and I have met many wonderful people in Northern Virginia. I look forward to serving them as a transitional deacon.
Teko Teko-Agbo
Age: 35
Hometown: Lome, neighborhood of Adakpamé, Togo, Western Africa
Parish: Queen of Apostles Church, Alexandria
Parents: Victor and Dede Teko-Agbo
Siblings: Three brothers
Education: Lycée De Lome-Port, High School, Lome, Togo, 2006-09; D’Youville University, Buffalo, N.Y., 2016, bachelor’s in philosophy
Seminary: Bishop Fallon Formation House with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Buffalo, N.Y., 2014-17; St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park, Md., 2022-23; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., 2023-present
Summer assignments: St. James Church, Jamestown, N.Y., 2023; Basilica of St. Mary, Alexandria, 2024
What brought you to the seminary? I felt the desire to enter seminary since I was 14. God was calling me to be a priest. All my childhood friends knew I would become a priest.
I grew up in the Archdiocese of Lome in Togo, attending St. Anthony of Padua Church, which always had five to 10 priests, many of whom were young. The priest meant a lot to the community, and they nourished my desire for the priesthood.
In 2020, after living in the U.S. for several years, I applied and was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Buffalo, N.Y. After one year of theology studies in Baltimore, I realized that to be a good priest I would need the support of my family, most of whom were living in or near the Arlington diocese, so I was grateful to be admitted as a seminarian here.
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? I look forward to preaching and baptizing. I hope to baptize my nieces and nephews. I also look forward to blessing homes and enthroning the Sacred Heart, not only into the homes of Christian faithful, but in their hearts as well.
Favorite Bible quote: Luke 1:37 — “For nothing will be impossible for God.”
Favorite family or cultural tradition? At the beginning of every year, my father would call a family meeting early in the morning and talk about what went well the previous year, and what can be improved upon. He showed us strong family leadership.
Also, my father would take us to visit my grandmother during school breaks. In the fresh air of rural life, we wandered through farms, climbed coconut trees, trapped quails and built houses. I get very nostalgic about it.
Aaron Frank Zanca
Age: 27
Hometown: Pensacola, Fla.
Parish: Basilica of St. Mary, Alexandria
Parents: Anthony and Tamra Zanca
Siblings: Three brothers
Education: Pensacola High School, Pensacola, Fla., 2010-15; University of West Florida, 2015-17, bachelor’s in art history
Seminary: Conciliar Seminary of St. Indalatius of Almería, Almería, Spain, 2017-21; St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Lower Gwynedd, Pa., 2023-present
Summer assignments: St. John the Apostle Church, Leesburg, 2024
Pastoral year assignments: Sacred Heart Church, Winchester, fall 2022; St. Leo the Great Church, Fairfax, spring 2023
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? I have been more and more excited about baptizing children. It is the most important day in the life of a child, and it has begun to hit me, that it will be Christ through my hands offering new life. I have begun to shape the fidelity of my ordination promises, as both for love of God, and specifically for the children that I will baptize, representing the people of God.
Favorite Bible quote? Psalm 133 — “Ecce quam bonum” — “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity.”
Hobbies: Running, soccer, painting, cooking, music
Favorite family or cultural tradition: My favorite feast days are Corpus Christi and the Feast of St. Joseph. Every year I try to set up a St. Joseph altar in honor of the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a Sicilian tradition to set up a table with a statue of St. Joseph and Italian cookies, cannoli, zeppole di San Giuseppe and other offerings that are shared among those present and also offered to the poor. It is a tradition that brings family and the community together and also cares for the poor, much like Joseph did for the Holy Family.
What’s been your favorite part of seminary so far? I love the fraternity at the seminary; it is so edifying to be surrounded by men who wish to serve the Lord in the same priestly vocation and that are striving for holiness.
What have you been doing to prepare for diaconate ordination? I have been praying with the promises that I will make at ordination, asking God to give me the grace and strength to be faithful to them.
