This afternoon, the Rector of Saint Joseph’s Seminary (Yonkers, NY) The Most Reverend Gerald T. Walsh, MSW, told seven deacons (the 4th year class) that the Archbishop of New York, Timothy M. Dolan, has called them to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. So, we say that they have “received the call.”
The deacons are: James Ferreira, George LaGrutta, Steven Markantonis, Fredy Patino-Montoya, Thomas Roslak, Enrique Salvo and Daniel Tuite. All seven deacons will serve in the Archdiocese of New York.
Also to be ordained and part of the 4th year class are three Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Brothers Albert Osewski, Charles-Benoit Reche and Isaac Mary Spinharney. Our Franciscan friars have been assigned to Nicargua, Ireland and Honduras, respectively.
“The priest, who is called,” Pope John Paul II said in Pastores Dabo Vobis, “is to be a ‘living image’ of Jesus Christ, head and shepherd of the Church, should seek to reflect in himself, as far as possible, the human perfection which shines forth in the incarnate Son of God and which is reflected with particular liveliness in his attitudes towards others as we see narrated in the Gospels. The ministry of the priest is, certainly, to proclaim the word, to celebrate the sacraments, to guide the Christian community in charity ‘in the name and in the person of Christ,’ but all this he does dealing always and only with individual human beings …. In order that his ministry may be humanly as credible and acceptable as possible, it is important that the priest should mold his personality in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ the Redeemer of humanity.”
The ten deacons will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan, PhD, on May 15, 2010, at The Cathedral of Saint Patrick at 9 a.m.