Toronto diaconate grows by 14 after St. Michael's Cathedral ordinations

May 28, 2012

TORONTO - Ordaining deacons is just like Christmas. It's all about the word made flesh.

"Deacons are ordained to assist the Apostles proclaim the word and make that word a reality," Bishop Vincent Nguyen told 14 men he ordained to the second order of deacons on Saturday, May 26 at St. Michael's Cathedral.

The 14 new deacons were one shy of their full compliment. Daniel Mothersill, a 63-year-old visiting professor at Ryerson University and director of CEO Fusion, would have made it 15. He had gone through the entire four year formation program with this year's ordinandi but died unexpectedly May 12.

The core of the sacrament of Holy Orders is the Gospel, said Nguyen. He drew the ordinandis' attention to words the ordaining bishop speaks when he presents each new deacon with the book of the Gospels: "Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach."

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The Archdiocese of Toronto's 14 new deacons lie prostrate during their ordination. (photo by Michael Swan)

As has been the custom for as long as Toronto has had permanent deacons, the ordination began with the bishop asking the deacons' wives for their consent to ordain them.

"We count on your support and sacrifices as these men are called to serve holy mother Church," Nguyen told the women.

This is the 40th year that the archdiocese has ordained permanent deacons since Archbishop Philip Pocock instituted the diaconate as part of Toronto's response to the Second Vatican Council.

14 new deacons

Mark Castanier, St. Gertrude’s Parish, Oshawa
Pasquale Colangelo, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Aurora
Guiseppe D’Amico, St. Mary Immaculate Parish, Richmond Hill
Miguel Gasper Pachaeo Da Silva, St. Martin of Tours Parish, Mississauga
William De Marchi, St. Ignatius Loyola Parish, Mississauga.
Stefano Di Mauro, Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish, Richmond Hill
Michael Gennaro, Good Shepherd Parish, Thornhill
Pedro Guevara-Mann, Holy Martyrs of Japan, Bradford
Andrew Kemp, St. Joseph’s Parish, Scarborough
Augustine de la Custodia Meneses Martinez, St. Philip Neri Parish, North York.
Michal Minkowski, St. Christopher’s Parish, Mississauga
Stephen Pitre, St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Newmarket
Mark Romeo, Guardian Angels Parish, Brampton
Franciscus Sukardi, St. Mary’s Parish, Brampton.

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