On March 29th, 2008 I was ordained a deacon by the Bishop of Steubenville: Bishop R. Daniel Conlon. It is amazing to think that Bishop Conlon’s lineage as a Bishop can be traced back in an unbroken line of succession to the Apostles of Christ, who were ordained by Jesus Himself! Being a deacon is the last stage in formation on the road to the priesthood. As a deacon, I am able to give official Church blessings, to officiate at baptisms, weddings and funerals, to serve very close to the priest at the Altar, and also preach at Mass. Although I will not be able to celebrate Mass or hear confessions until I’m ordained a priest -- God willing, next June -- through my deaconate ordaination, I have been conformed to Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, in a special way. The theological terminology is that there is an “ontolo gical change” in the one who is ordained in any of the three levels of ordination in the Catholic Church: that of deacon, priest or Bishop. This change could be compared to the change that occurs in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. There, bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ and although it still looks like bread and wine, by faith we know that it these elements have been changed into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, who is Truly Present in the Eucharist. In a similar (although not exactly the same) way, when a deacon, priest or Bishop is ordained he still looks the same, but a change has occurred in the person’s very being. Truly, what happened on March 29th is indescribable. I ask for your prayers that I may continue to surrender myself entirely to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary that all that They desire may be accomplished in and through me.
