'Whatever God Wants'
Cardinal ordains 15 permanent deacons 'to empty themselves in service'
By JOHN BURGERAfter Cardinal O'Connor ordained 15 men to the permanent diaconate June 5 in St. Patrick's Cathedral, he waited as seven permanent deacons offered the traditional kiss of peace to welcome them to their ministry. Then the cardinal presented the newly ordained to the congregation of wives, children, other family members and friends who responded with applause.
The new deacons, who represent nine counties of the archdiocese, were committed by the cardinal to a ministry of service to the Church and its people.
"It is truly a wondrous thing, a sign of the work of the Holy Spirit in the world today, that here in a country where we've stretched the concept of democracy to emphasize rights and entitlements, we still have men willing to empty themselves in service, to do away with the trappings of power and live for something other than their own rights and entitlements," the cardinal said at the end of Mass.
The newly ordained are Deacons John F. Baffa of St. Lawrence O'Toole parish in Brewster; Brother Ascencion E. Barreras, O.A.R., of Tagaste Monastery in Suffern, Thomas J. Colton of St. Boniface parish in Wesley Hills, John J. Crapanzano of Immaculate Conception in Stony Point, Edwin J. Cruz of St. John Vianney in the Bronx, Andrew P. Daubman of Holy Trinity in Poughkeepsie, and Nelson S. Duran of St. Anthony of Padua in the Bronx.
Also, Deacons Pedro O. Lambert of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Manhattan, Gerard T. Lindley of Regina Coeli in Hyde Park, James D. McGarry of St. John the Evangelist in Goshen, Daniel F. Pellegrin of St. Bernard's in White Plains, Joaquim J. Pereira of Our Lady of the Rosary in Yonkers, John F. Scarfi of St. John the Evangelist in Mahopac, Nunzio J. Sorrentino of St. Clare's on Staten Island and Jerome J. Stuetzle of St. Anthony's in Pine Plains.
They spent four years preparing for ordination through theological studies and spiritual formation at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie and several sites around the archdiocese. But more central than that to their role as deacons is the spirit of service, the cardinal said in his homily. He commended the deacons for placing on the cover of the program for the Mass a quote from St. Ignatius of Antioch, who described deacons as those "entrusted with the service of Jesus Christ."
"Who is Jesus Christ? Look around you," the cardinal told the
candidates, motioning to the bishops, priests and deacons in the sanctuary and the
congregation of more than 1,500 lay people. "This is the body of Christ. You are
entrusted with the service of the body of Christ."He called on the men to imitate Christ, whose "emptying of self" gave a new meaning to the concept of service. "This is what happens to you today," he said, noting that they "enter a new state altogether," whatever their careers are. "In Christ there is no East or West because he emptied himself," he said.
The permanent diaconate was restored in the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Paul VI in 1967. The archdiocese has been ordaining permanent deacons since 1973.
Before the homily, Msgr. Francis J. McAree, rector of St. Joseph's Seminary, recommended the 14 lay men and one religious brother for ordination, and the cardinal accepted. After the homily, the two unmarried candidates made a commitment to celibacy and all promised obedience to the cardinal and his successors. Married men may be ordained permanent deacons, but a man may not marry after ordination.
As the congregation prayed the Litany of the Saints, the candidates prostrated themselves on the floor of the sanctuary. The cardinal then laid his hands on the head of each. The laying on of hands, together with a prayer of consecration, bestows the gift of the Holy Spirit and confers ordination.
The men's pastors then placed vestments on them, and the cardinal presented each with a Book of the Gospels, instructing them to "believe what you read and teach what you believe." Most deacons are permitted to give the homily at Mass.
Finally, the cardinal welcomed each into the order of deacon with the kiss of peace. The kiss was also offered by Auxiliary Bishops Robert A. Brucato, vicar for pastoral guidance, and Anthony F. Mestice, vicar of Central Westchester and pastor of Resurrection parish in Rye, who concelebrated, as well as seven deacons, symbolizing the original seven deacons of the early Church.
The cardinal expressed gratitude to Deacon Anthony P. Cassaneto for coordinating the work of the permanent diaconate in the archdiocese.
Greeting family and friends outside the cathedral after Mass was Deacon Baffa, who told CNY that he started considering the diaconate in the late 1970s. "I knew that whatever God wanted me to do, it would be in service," he said.
His son, Chris, 33, added, "He always had it in his heart to serve God and his people."
Of the fact that her husband has spent less time at home due to studies and might spend even less when he is in ministry, Pat Baffa commented, "At times it's difficult, but when you think of what he's doing, it gives you a good feeling."
"Whatever God calls us to do, that's what we're going to do," Deacon Baffa responded.