Bishop Michael F. Burbidge ordained four seminarians from across
the Arlington diocese to the transitional diaconate June 13 at the Cathedral of
St. Thomas More in Arlington. With safety limitations still in place because of
the coronavirus, a limited number of family and friends were able to attend the
ceremony in person, but a cloud of 2,300 virtual witnesses watched the moving
ceremony via livestream.
The new deacons are Jonathan Fioramonti of All Saints Catholic
Church in Manassas, John Paul Heisler of St. John the Baptist Church in Front
Royal, Jonathan Smith of the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria and Joseph
Townsend of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Fredericksburg.
The first part of the ordination ceremony was the Election of the
Candidates, in which the four candidates were called by name to stand before
Bishop Burbidge. Father Michael C. Isenberg, diocesan vocations director,
testified that they had been found worthy, and Bishop Burbidge proclaimed that
“we choose these, our brothers, for the Order of the Diaconate,” to the
applause of those gathered.
In his homily, Bishop Burbidge noted that the names of the
candidates all begin with the letter J, and said, “Maybe the Lord is trying to
tell us something.” He focused his homily on three “truths and realities” being
celebrated at the ordination, all starting with the letter J: Jesus, justice
and joy.
Bishop Burbidge said that during the imposition of hands in the ordination
ceremony, “the Lord’s Holy Spirit will descend upon you and configure you
forever to the very person of Christ as his deacons, and God-willing, one day
soon, as his priests.” He said the candidates were called to imitate Jesus in
his “perfect example of humility. He is the One who came to serve and not to be
served; who treated all persons with love, mercy and compassion” and who
offered the ultimate sacrifice in obedience to his Father for our salvation.
Bishop Burbidge told the candidates to remember that in the
Gospel reading, “the Lord told his disciples ‘Don’t let anything weigh you down’
” in their mission. “Dear candidates,
never be weighed down by fear, doubt or insecurity. Rely totally on Jesus.”
He also spoke about justice, noting that they are being sent
forth as deacons “at a time our nation is experiencing great turmoil and
unrest.” He referred to the Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice he
celebrated last week, at which the community prayed “for the eradication of any
form of injustice including racism, discrimination, violence and all evil acts
against the dignity of the human person.”
Bishop Burbidge said, “you know, all of us know, that our nation
will only be transformed to the extent that we as a people are faithful to
God’s commands and the Gospel of Life. It is this Gospel that you soon will be
ordained to preach in all of its richness and beauty. You are called to
inspire, encourage and respectfully challenge God’s people to live this Gospel
and to share it with others.”
Finally, the Bishop spoke of the joy of ordained ministry and of
responding daily to the pastoral and spiritual needs of others, “especially the
poor, weak and most vulnerable.” He reminded them that it is prayer that
sustains this joy, including meditation before the Blessed Sacrament, personal
prayer and praying the Liturgy of the Hours, in living their promises of
respect and obedience, in seeking the Lord’s mercy and in being strengthened
with the Eucharist. “In him alone will you find the strength you need to live
out your ministry, even in the midst of complex situations.”
After the homily, the candidates each knelt before Bishop
Burbidge, placed their hands in his and pledged obedience to him and his
successors, then lay prostrate on the floor as the Litany of Saints was sung by
the choir. Each candidate then approached Bishop Burbidge, who placed his hands
on each of their heads before the prayer of ordination.
Next came the investiture, during which the newly ordained
deacons were vested by a chosen clergy member in putting on a deacon’s stole
and the tunic-like vestment known as a dalmatic. Deacon John Eberlein of All
Saints, who has been a deacon for 46 years, assisted Deacon Jonathan
Fioramonti; Father Christopher Pollard, pastor of St. John the Beloved Church
in McLean, assisted Deacon John Paul Heisler; newly ordained Father Joseph
Moschetto assisted Deacon Jonathan Smith; and Father Stefan Starzynski,
chaplain at Inova Fairfax Hospital, assisted Deacon Joseph Townsend.
The newly ordained deacons then again approached Bishop Burbidge
and knelt before him to receive the Book of Gospels, as he said, “Receive the
Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach
what you believe and practice what you teach.” Then the Bishop gave each of the
newly ordained the Fraternal Kiss, and other attending deacons did the same.
After the Mass, the new deacons greeted family and friends
outside.
Deacon Fioramonti’s aunt, Kathy Bomar, presented him with a
family Bible that was his great grandmother’s, purchased at the Vatican in the
1950s. “It will be neat as a deacon to proclaim the Gospel with it,” he said.
Deacon Heisler’s uncle and godfather, Peter Heisler, said he was
“overwhelmed by the day. As his godfather, I have been to all his sacraments,
and this is the only one I haven’t gotten to take a part in — I could only
stand by and watch the Holy Spirit go to work.”
Deacon Townsend’s sister Elisa found the ceremony “beautiful and
breathtaking.” She said it was “inspiring and moving to see these men offer
their lives to God.”
Each of the new deacons began his diaconate
assignment June 15. Deacon Fioramonti will serve at the Cathedral of St. Thomas
More. Deacon Heisler will serve at All Saints. Deacon Smith will serve at the
Church of the Nativity in Burke, and Deacon Townsend will serve at the Basilica
of St. Mary.
Contributing: Stacy Rausch
Buy prints and keepsakes of the diaconate ordination at catholicherald.smugmug.com.
