On Sept. 3, Deacon Timothy Childers, MIC, (above, second from left), and Deacon Jason Lewis, MIC (above, right), were ordained to the transitional diaconate by the Most Rev. Roy Edward Campbell, Jr., auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
Deacon Eric Hernandez, Jr., CSP, of Paulist Fathers was also ordained, and the Paulists kindly arranged for the Mass to be livestreamed.
Among those in attendance were the Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC, Marian provincial superior; and Fr. Jim McCormack, MIC, Marian director of formation. Marian Brother Stephen J., MIC, was cantor.
Serve others with joy
“Do the will of God and charity from your heart,” Bishop Campbell advised the ordinandi in his homily. “Serve others with joy as you would serve the Lord Himself.”
“Since you present yourself for the order of the diaconate of your own free choice, you must be like those once chosen by the apostles for the ministry of charity – men of good reputation, full of wisdom and of the Holy Spirit,” he continued.
“You will exercise your ministry in the celibate state. Celibacy is both a sign of pastoral charity and an incentive to it, as well as the source of spiritual fruitfulness in this world. For urged on by sincere love of Christ the Lord, and living in this state with total dedication, you will cling more correctly to Christ with an undivided heart. You will devote yourselves with greater freedom to the service of God and others and you will serve singlemindedly to the work of spiritual rebirth.
“Firmly planted and grounded in faith, show yourselves without blemish and beyond reproach before God and others, as is proper for a minister of Christ and a steward of God’s mysteries.
“Do not allow yourselves to be turned away from the gospel and the Hope which it brings, which you must not only hear, but also serve. Hold fast to the Mystery of Faith with a clear conscience and expressed by your actions, the word of God, which your lips proclaim, so that the Christian people, brought to life by the Spirit, may become a pure offering accepted by God.
“And so that you yourselves, when you go out to meet the Lord on the last day,” the bishop concluded, “may be able to hear Him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.’”
Please remember Deacon Timothy and Deacon Jason in your prayers!
Watch the Ordination Mass here.
Learn more about our two new Deacons here.