November 3, 2006

13 men are ordained deacons at Saint Meinrad

Thirteen deacons from eight dioceses lie prostrate on the floor of Saint Meinrad Archabbey Church in St. Meinrad during the ordination rite on Oct. 28, which was celebrated by Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein. (Photo courtesy Saint Meinrad School of Theology)

Photo caption: Thirteen deacons from eight dioceses lie prostrate on the floor of Saint Meinrad Archabbey Church in St. Meinrad during the ordination rite on Oct. 28, which was celebrated by Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein. (Photo courtesy Saint Meinrad School of Theology)

Staff report

Thirteen seminarians—including two men from the archdiocese—who are studying at Saint Meinrad School of Theology received the order of deacon from Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein on Oct. 28 at the Archabbey Church in St. Meinrad.

The newly ordained deacons are Rick Nagel and Randall Summers from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis; Thomas Galarneault from the Diocese of Duluth, Minn.; Robert Gross from the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa; Thomas Hart from the Diocese of Little Rock, Ark.; Thomas Hong and Timothy Lee from the Diocese of Busan in South Korea; and Gary Kastl and Brian O’Brien from the Diocese of Tulsa, Okla.

Also ordained to the diaconate were Benedictine Brother Paul Nord of Saint Meinrad Archabbey; Ernesto Reynosa Campirano and Paul Sullivan from the Diocese of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Eric Schild from the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio.

In the Catholic faith, a deacon can preach, baptize, witness marriages, offer Communion to the sick and aged, and perform other ministerial duties.

These men are transitional deacons, meaning they are preparing for ordination to the priesthood. Many Catholic dioceses also have permanent deacons who carry out the same role, but are not studying for the priesthood.

The seminarians attend Saint Meinrad School of Theology, which offers initial and ongoing formation for priests, permanent deacons and lay ministers.

The School of Theology is operated by the Benedictine monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. †

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