Two new transitional deacons feel God's presence
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After offering his first blessing as a transitional deacon to scores of people following his Dec. 14 Mass of Ordination at St. Louis Cathedral, Deacon Joseph Martello of New Orleans said it was like “a lightning bolt” had hit him during the liturgy.
His fellow seminarian, Deacon Daniel Micah of the Archdiocese of Tororo in Uganda, said he felt a stirring of the heart when Archbishop Gregory Aymond asked the two men, both 28, to prostrate themselves in front of the altar for the Litany of the Saints.
“I’m so excited,” Deacon Martello said after spending 45 minutes blessing friends and family members, including his parents, Julie and Jackie Martello, and his seven siblings after the Mass. “It was incredible. It was a beautiful Mass. I was just overwhelmed, and I had to stop myself from getting a little emotional because it was really beautiful.”
Internship coming at St. Francis Xavier
Deacon Martello, who will be stationed from January through May at St. Francis Xavier Church in Metairie before he is ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New Orleans next June, said the part of the liturgy that moved him the most was the prayer of ordination, when Archbishop Aymond laid his hands on his head and invoked the Holy Spirit.
“The prayer of ordination was like a lightning bolt hitting me,” Martello said. “It was incredible. It was a moment where I was ordained – and it took place. It was surreal, really.”
Litany of the Saints
Deacon Micah, who will be ordained as a priest next July in Uganda, recalled surrendering himself to God in front of the altar as one of the most intensely spiritual moments of his life.
“When we were prostrating ourselves in front of the altar, I felt like there was this kind of warmth; I felt like it was the Holy Spirit flowing through me,” Deacon Micah said. “I was lying alone, but I couldn’t help hearing the voices of people singing together with the angels and the saints. That was very touching to me.”
Beacons of charity
Emotions aside, Archbishop Aymond urged the two recent graduates of Notre Dame Seminary to become beacons of charity in a world badly in need of transformation. All Christians are called by baptism to love others, the archbishop said, but deacons are called to take that charity to an even deeper level.
“The deacon of the church is to lead us in charity and to make sure that the rest of us respond to that call of baptism to be charitable and to serve others,” Archbishop Aymond said, turning to the ordinands seated in front of him. “Make sure you don’t forget the poor and the sick, those with disabilities, those who have been hurt by racism, the immigrant, those on death row, those in prisons and those on the fringes of our society. That’s where we need you to be during your diaconate ministry.”
The archbishop said deacons also are called to be the voice of Jesus,” proclaiming the Gospel and breaking open the Scriptures for people who are thirsting for authentic truth. During the ordination rite, Archbishop Aymond handed each new deacon the Book of the Gospels.
“You are to proclaim the Gospel in liturgy and you are to preach the word of God, to help people apply God’s word in their daily lives,” he said. “We are very much aware that people are hungering for the word of God. They’re hungry to know how that word directs their lives. You will be called to proclaim God’s word, not your own message.”
Archbishop Aymond stressed that the deacons should take great care and prayerfully discern what they will say in their homilies “so that you can speak his word and touch the hearts of those before you.”
The third role of the deacon, he said, is to lead the Catholic assembly in prayer, assisting the priest at Mass, distributing Communion to the sick and the dying, witnessing marriage and presiding at funerals.
“You are sent forth with grave responsibilities,” he said.
Archbishop Aymond said fulfilling these responsibilities would be possible only by maintaining a rich prayer life. And, he added, showing obedience to what the church is calling them to do is a vital aspect of diaconal service.
Speaking of the promise of celibate chastity that each man made, the archbishop said: “You promise to remain celibate – to give your entire life and all of your efforts to God and to ministry. Your only responsibility in life is to lead and serve God’s people. Everything else is secondary. It is a radical commitment in which you surrender yourself, empty yourself, to do just that.”
Deacon Martello's family's front-pew seat
While Deacon Micah’s family watched the ordination from their home in Uganda via livestream, Deacon Martello’s large family and relatives sat in the front three pews.
“I can’t even put this into words, honestly,” Deacon Martello’s father Jackie said. “My heart leaps with joy – that’s all I can say.”
“I’m overwhelmed and so grateful,” said Julie Martello, Deacon Martello’s mother. “I feel blessed and I’m so grateful to the Blessed Mother for bringing him here.”
Deacon Martello graduated from De La Salle High School and was a history major at Tulane University when he announced to his parents that he was considering entering the seminary.
“He’s always been a very prayerful kid, but he lived a very normal college life,” his father said. “We didn’t see it coming, and he came and hit us over the head with it.”
“But he’s always had a love for the Eucharist,” his mother added.
Deacon Micah will serve his six-month diaconate internship at St. Dominic Church in Lakeview before returning to his home country.
“I feel really good,” said Deacon Micah, who entered a minor seminary in Uganda at the age of 12. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and this is the day that the Lord has made. I’m really thankful to God for this day and thankful to my parents, too, who brought me up to this level. I’m also thankful for Notre Dame Seminary and Archbishop Aymond.”