After a year of diaconate service at Blessed Sacrament
Parish, Deacon Tony Killian is ready to embrace the sacrament
of holy orders at ordination at the Cathedral of St. Thomas
More in Arlington this Saturday.
It’s been a busy year for the deacon, who has spent his time
at the Alexandria parish helping Father John Cregan, pastor,
by preaching at weekend liturgies, visiting the sick and
homebound, and being present for adoration and benediction.
As he ministered to the community, Deacon Killian gained an
appreciation for the “great need” for ministry in nursing
homes, and spent time visiting the elderly and dying,
presiding over Communion services and accompanying priests as
they celebrated Masses. He served during burials and had
ample time to practice his preaching – usually at least once
every Sunday.
“You only get to be an effective preacher by actually
preachin`g and then listening to good preaching,” Deacon
Killian said.
Father Cregan said that it’s beneficial for a deacon to be
exposed to all the activities in a thriving parish, and that
Deacon Killian’s presence was a positive influence at Blessed
Sacrament.
“He was a real asset to us and just a joy to have in the
rectory,” Father Cregan said. “It was a good year for him and
for us.”
Now that his diaconate year is behind him and the priesthood
is on the horizon, Deacon Killian is ready to be ordained –
and he feels no apprehension whatsoever about his choice.
“If anything this year has solidified my desire to serve the
people of God in Arlington and do what I can to help them on
this journey that hopefully, for all of us, will end in
eternal life,” he said. “That’s really what the name of the
game is: Life with the Lord.”
The deacon currently is poring over the details of the first
Mass he will celebrate – to be offered the day after
ordination, June 15, at his home parish of St. Lawrence in
Springfield.
“I can’t wait for that,” he said, adding that he will use a
chalice that belonged to a late priest for whom the deacon
used to serve Mass. That was back when Deacon Killian was
just a kid serving at the altar of St. Matthew Parish in
Philadelphia.
He later attended Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales
(now De Sales University) in Center Valley, Pa., and worked
for the government for many years before realizing he was
being called to the priesthood.
In 2002, he entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg,
Md. While there, surrounded by other men preparing for the
priesthood, Deacon Killian felt a “great sense of happiness
for the Church and for the men themselves.”
Even before he entered the seminary, Deacon Killian was
influenced by the example of now-Father Ramon Baez, parochial
vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church, who
Deacon Killian knew through St. Lawrence.
“Deacon Tony is really a man of deep faith,” Father Baez
said. “He can be a great bridge between Jesus Christ and the
people of God.”
Father Baez said that his friend’s maturity level, patience
and cheerfulness will all contribute to his success in the
priesthood.
“It’s so important, when you’re a priest, to always try to
reflect the face of Christ to other people,” he said. “Tony
can really bring that message. It’s a great joy to finally be
able to call him a brother priest.”
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde will ordain Deacon Killian,
along with two other men, on June 14 at the Cathedral of St.
Thomas More in Arlington at 11 a.m.
