Eight seminarians will be ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge April 23, a major milestone on the path to priesthood. Read their bios.
Jonathan “Tony” Bennett, currently assigned to St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church, attends Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. His summer assignments include Holy Family Church in Dale City, the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria and St. Andrew Church in Clifton.
What brought you to seminary? While there were many small promptings and graces that lead me to enter seminary, the annual diocesan Lenten retreat for men discerning a call to priesthood was a deciding factor, especially the Bishop’s talk and his responding to our questions.
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? I most look forward to celebrating the sacrament of baptism. Knowing that the Lord will use me as an instrument to bring others into his kingdom as sons and daughters will be humbling yet joyful.
Hobbies? I love to fish, and hike about to find those off-the-beaten-path fishing holes.
What have you been doing to prepare for diaconate ordination? I have been spending restful time in prayer coming to know the great love Jesus has for me and his bride the church, and my desire to help Our Lord by serving this same church as deacon.
Andrew Clark attends St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa. His summer assignments include St. Agnes Church in Arlington; the Institute of Priestly Formation in Omaha, Neb.; St. John the Evangelist Church in Warrenton; and Spanish-language immersion in Guatemala.
What brought you to seminary? God brought me to seminary through his gifts of peace and joy. In prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, he revealed to me that my desire to be a priest had been planted in my heart even before I was aware of it. Initially, I was afraid and refused to listen to him, but over time he won me back to the path he had planned for me. The path hasn’t been easy, far from it, but it has been the most fulfilling experience of my life and we’re just getting started.
Favorite Bible quote? “Not to us oh Lord, not to us, but to Your Name be the Glory!” (Ps 115)
What have you been doing to prepare for diaconate ordination? Pray, pray and pray some more. My whole life I have looked up to the priests as those who know what they’re doing, as those who will lead me to God. Now, I am being ordained to the diaconate, only one step removed from the priesthood, and I will be one others look toward as one of those who leads others to Christ Jesus. There is no greater joy, there is no greater responsibility, and I pray that God will work through my frailty and weakness to see his work done.
Timothy Andrew Courtney attends the Pontifical North American College in Rome. His summer assignments include St. James Church in Falls Church, St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax, St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Colonial Beach and Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling.
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? I look forward first and foremost to preaching the word of God at Mass and being an instrument of God’s grace in the administration of the sacraments.
Hobbies? I study modern languages for fun. I’ve studied Spanish, Arabic, Italian, a little bit of German, some Polish, and right now I’m working on Czech. The only ones I can really say I speak with some fluency are Spanish and Italian but the others are coming along.
What have you been doing to prepare for diaconate ordination? I’ve been spending time praying and meditating on the rite of ordination to the diaconate, especially the prayer of ordination itself.
Zinjin Iglesia attends St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa. His summer assignments include Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Winchester; Institute of Priestly Formation in Omaha, Neb.; St. Charles Borromeo Church in Clarendon and Spanish-language immersion in Antigua, Guatemala.
What brought you to seminary? After a powerful conversion to the faith in college, I fell in love with Jesus Christ — to the point of wanting him to be at the center of my life. As I grew in my faith, God put incredible priests in my life and a strong desire to pursue his heart in the seminary.
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? I am looking forward to preaching homilies. What a gift that I will be able to share the fruits of my prayer and God’s message of mercy with the people of God.
Favorite cultural tradition? The Philippines has many cultural traditions. One of my favorite Filipino traditions is the way we celebrate parties — with massive quantities of food, music and line dancing, and a lot of joy.
Michael Thomas Nugent, currently assigned to the base chapel at the Naval Support Activity in Naples, Italy, attends the Pontifical North American College in Rome. His summer assignments include St. Raymond of Peñafort Church in Springfield, St. John the Evangelist Church in Warrenton, Our Lady of Hope Church in Potomac Falls, St. Veronica Church in Chantilly and St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton.
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? I am very eager to proclaim the Gospel and to preach.
Favorite Bible quote? Among my favorite verses from Scripture is Isaiah 54:10: “Though the mountains leave their place/ and the hills be shaken,/ my love shall never leave you/ nor my covenant of peace be shaken,/ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”
What’s been your favorite part of seminary so far? My time in seminary has given me a great deal to be thankful for. I am especially grateful for the friendships I’ve made with brother seminarians and the priests of Arlington; the chance to study theology and philosophy; learning the importance of a disciplined prayer life; and the opportunity to study for the priesthood in Rome.
Hobbies? I love running, swimming, reading novels and The Economist, attempting to bake, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Stanley (Luke) Joseph Poczatek IV attends St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa. His summer assignments include Holy Spirit Church in Annandale, Blessed Sacrament/Multi-Cultural Office in Alexandria, Our Lady of Hope in Potomac Falls, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Lake Ridge and Spanish-language immersion in Antigua, Guatemala.
What brought you to seminary? The strong Catholic upbringing nurtured by my parents, as well as the example of awesome priests and seminarians.
Hobbies? I enjoy running, basketball, chess and “wasting time” with family and friends.
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? I look forward to the role of serving the priest at the altar. I hope to grow in awareness more and more of what it means to be Christ the servant.
Charles Christian Wilton, currently assigned to St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, attends Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. His summer assignments include St. John the Beloved Church in McLean, The Rome Experience program, St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg and Spanish-language immersion in Antigua, Guatemala.
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? Assisting at Mass, preaching, baptizing, bringing Our Lord to the housebound and spending time with them, and spending more time in Arlington and getting to know the families there better.
What’s been your favorite part of seminary so far? Seeing how Jesus has changed and transformed me from the moment I entered seminary to now. It’s been truly phenomenal. The way he answers my prayers, how he teaches me both about myself and about him.
What have you been doing to prepare for diaconate ordination? I went to Rome on a pilgrimage during spring break, and am spending more time in adoration. I’ve also found being in God’s presence has been very helpful, knowing that each time I enter into prayer God is forming me.
David Witherow, currently assigned to St. Anthony of Padua Church in King George, attends Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. His summer assignments include St. Jude Church in Fredericksburg, Institute of Priestly Formation in Omaha, Neb., Church of Nativity in Burke, Spanish-language immersion at Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling and a pastoral year at St. Anthony of Padua.
What brought you to seminary? During my time in college, the question of the priesthood began to arise more and more frequently in prayer. After graduating, I spent two years working in campus ministry before attending a retreat where it became clear to me that I needed to answer the question of the priesthood by entering seminary.
Favorite Bible quote? “One thing I ask of the Lord, for this I seek, to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” (Ps 27:4).
Favorite family tradition? My family tries to take a vacation where we can all be together once a year. We all look forward to it every year simply because we have so much fun being together.
Favorite part of seminary so far? It is a privilege to be able to spend this time in study and preparation for the priesthood. Spending this time of education with so many excellent friends and teachers is just that much more of an incredible blessing.
Watch the livestream
The Mass of ordination to the transitional diaconate will be livestreamed from the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington April 23, 11 a.m., at youtube.com/watch?v=1GbrtCX147g.
