Five men ordained to the transitional diaconate

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

The first reading from the first chapter of Jeremiah at the transitional diaconate Ordination Mass of five men May 22 at St. Louis Cathedral said it all.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you,” read G. Edward Merritt, the grandfather of transitional Deacon Jeffrey Merritt, from the Old Testament.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond said the five transitional deacons – Deacons Jeffrey Merritt, Jody DiMaggio, Andy Gonzalez and Lennin Dario Arroyo Martinez, who will serve in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and Deacon Joseph Odongo, who was ordained for the Archdiocese of Tororo in Uganda –  were chosen by God to carry out his ministry.

Archbishop Aymond proclaimed it a “day of great joy” because Jesus had befriended and chosen each man, even though they took different paths to the transitional diaconate, the final step before becoming priests in the Catholic Church. 

Christ planted a seed, Archbishop Aymond said, calling them to say “yes,” to “come follow me,” just as the apostles 2,000 years ago chose men to be deacons who had the qualities of knowing Jesus personally by faith, who were respected by the community, who were humble and willing to serve everyone who comes to the church.

“For Lennin, he heard the question that God asked Isaiah ... and took it personally. …. Whom shall I send? Who shall be God’s messenger? And Lennin said, ‘Here I am. Send me’.” 

When Deacon DiMaggio reflected on his calling, it was “the example and care of priests his entire life. Through them he heard the Lord God say, ‘Come follow me,’ and was able to say, ‘Send me.’” 

“For Jeffrey, all of a sudden he heard at Mass in the Eucharistic Prayer, ‘Do this in memory of me.’ It became personal. It became an invitation to serve God in the priesthood. The seed was planted.”
 

Deacon Gonzalez’s first Mass in secret at age 12 in communist Cuba forever changed his life. “The church became family; the church became his home,” Archbishop Aymond said. 

Deacon Odongo’s relationship with his parents together with God had a profound effect on him and “led him to see the Eucharist as a gift, as a privilege.”

Total giving of self
“These five men say, ‘I have heard God’s call. I truly believe that he is calling me to be a deacon and to work with the order of priests,’” Archbishop Aymond said. 

Deacons are men who lead in the charitable works of the church and are “the conscience of charity,” Archbishop Ayond said. They are the voice of Christ who will teach and preach from the Book of the Gospel and those who “believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach”; lead others in prayer and assist the priest at Mass, bring Communion to the sick and dying, baptize, witness marriages and bury the dead.

Archbishop Aymond asked the new deacons to stay close to the Lord in prayer, to be men who want to become the “one” they read about, and to live out obedience and go wherever the church needs them; and to dedicate their entire life in Christ’s ministry in celibate chastity.


Emotions were on overdrive

Deacon Merritt said he was overwhelmed when his grandfather read the first reading at the diaconate Mass. 

“This moment is unbelievable,” he said. “You feel God’s love back at you. You feel supported and bolstered with the archbishop’s hands on you. And when you are standing next to him with all the priests and bishops, it’s like a strong community of offerings and ministry.”

“It was a beautiful moment,” Deacon Arroyo said. “I am ready to serve God.”


Deacon DiMaggio was thankful for family members and friends at the Mass. “It’s so overwhelming,” he said. “It’s so many emotions. When I was giving Communion to my godmother as a deacon, that’s when I lost it. … I was all tears. I have so much joy and just feel wonderful.”

“I’m just too excited,” said Deacon Odongo of the Diocese of Tororo. “I can’t believe it. I’m sure it’s God. … I can’t wait to be with the people. It’s a dream come true.”

Deacon Gonzalez called the ordination, “a dream come true. It has been a long journey so far, and God has always been with me. This is a beautiful day and moment to be here with my family from Cuba and all my friends who are supporting me from Florida and this beautiful archdiocese.”

The transitional deacons will do an internship through October and continue their studies at Notre Dame Seminary before being ordained to the priesthood in 2022.

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