Holy Thursday morning is a tense time for some seminarians.
Those expecting their “call to orders” for diaconate or
priestly ordinations can feel a bit nervous.
As is customary, Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde greeted
dicesan seminarians March 23 at 7:30 a.m. at the front doors
of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington. He joined
the men for the traditional group photo, then took several
sealed envelopes and began to call those to be ordained to
receive their letter.
Those called to be transitional deacons are Stephen Vaccaro
and Jordan Willard. Deacons who will be ordained priests are
Colin Davis and Joseph Rampino. Deacon Rampino is in Rome;
his letter will be mailed.
After the brief ceremony, the seminarians and the bishop
walked to the St. Thomas More Cathedral School cafeteria to
cook eggs, scrapple and bacon.
Bishop Loverde, in a traditional chef’s hat, scrambled eggs
and then stood behind a warming tray to serve the seminarians
and priests.
The breakfast is a popular event for seminarians and priests.
John Paul Heisler is a third-year college student at Saint
John Paul II Seminary in Washington. He’s been at the
breakfast before.
“It’s particularly inspiring to see the bishop and the
seminarians serving breakfast,” he said.
Heisler said it teaches a lesson of roles of the bishop,
seminarians and priests.
Vaccaro said that receiving his “call to orders” was amazing
and overwhelming.
“It’s a great day to see the brotherhood of priests,” he
said.
Bishop Loverde and seminarians say grace at annual Holy
Thursday breakfast. https://t.co/x4NnYxrVd7–
Catholic Herald (@acatholicherald)
March 24, 2016
