Transitional deacons make declarations in final ordination preparations

With Archbishop Charles C. Thompson looking on, Deacon Thomas Day, left, Deacon Liam Hosty and Deacon Isaac Siefker make an oath of fidelity to the Church and its shepherds during a Vespers liturgy on March 30 in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. The three transitional deacons will be ordained priests on June 7 in the cathedral. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

Three transitional deacons who will be ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in June made public declarations as part of their final preparations for ordination during a Vespers liturgy on March 30 in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis.

Deacon Thomas Day, Deacon Liam Hosty and Deacon Isaac Siefker took part in what is called “priesthood promises” during the liturgy. Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, who presided over the Vespers liturgy, will ordain them on June 7 in the cathedral.

The deacons declared that they are freely seeking ordination as priests, made a profession of faith and swore an oath of fidelity to the Church and its shepherds.

They also made similar declarations prior to their ordination as transitional deacons last year. According to Father Eric Augenstein, archdiocesan director of seminarians, the Church requires those seeking ordination to make such declarations so that bishops “can assert with confidence that those preparing for ordination are doing so with the correct motives and with the proper faith.”

Ordinarily in the past, those to be ordained transitional deacons or priests would make such declarations at the seminary where they were being formed for ordained ministry.

The declarations took place at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel this time because Deacon Day and Deacon Siefker have been serving in archdiocesan parishes since last December as part of the final part of their formation for priestly life and ministry.

The latest edition of the Program for Priestly Formation of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops requires transitional deacons to minister in parishes for six months prior to their priestly ordination in what it describes as the “vocational synthesis stage.”

Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, where Deacon Day and Deacon Siefker received formation, is one of the first seminaries in the U.S. to adapt its formation program to conform with the new stage.
 

(For more information on archdiocesan seminarians and on a vocation to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, visit HearGodsCall.com.) †