Photo: Catholic Courier photo by Jeff Witherow.
Details from Catholic Courier:
On April 17, 1982, the first class of permanent deacons was ordained for the Diocese of Rochester.
Now, 40 years later, Deacons R. Gerard de la Fuente, Alexander J. DeLucenay and José E. Rivera are joining that rich history of diaconal service in the diocese. After nearly five years of formation, the three men were ordained as permanent deacons by Bishop Salvatore R. Matano during a May 21 Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
By virtue of their ordination, permanent deacons may serve at the altar, proclaim the Gospel and preach at Mass; they also receive the faculties to preside at baptisms, witness marriages and officiate at funerals outside of Mass.
“The deacon’s life of service is intended to unite the people in the faith by preaching the Word of God and proclaiming the magisterial teachings of the church,” Bishop Matano said of the role of deacons during his homily.
“As deacons, you are called to inspire this transformation, renewal, conversion in the hearts of your sisters and brothers in the midst of the confusion, anxiety, depression and division, both in society and in the church herself in our modern age absorbed by misinformation, scandal, violence and oppressive tyranny,” he added.
The two-hour liturgy included the ancient diaconal ordination rites such as the laying on of hands, prayer of consecration, investiture with stole and dalmatic, and presentation of the Book of the Gospels. At the conclusion of the ordination rites, the more than 30 permanent deacons in attendance extended the fraternal sign of peace to the newly ordained — a gesture that was absent from the 2020 and 2021 diaconal ordinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic — to welcome Deacons de la Fuente, DeLucenay and Rivera into the Order of Deacon.
Read more and find more pictures at the link.
Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!
