December 9, 2020 — This year, 25 U.S. and Canadian Jesuits were ordained to the diaconate at several different Masses in the United States, Canada, France and Colombia. Seven Midwest Jesuits were among those ordained: Thomas Bambrick, SJ; Jeffrey Dorr, SJ; Robert Karle, SJ; Aaron Malnick, SJ; Hung Nguyen, SJ; Trevor Rainwater, SJ; and Jeffrey Sullivan, SJ. For a Jesuit in formation, ordination to the diaconate is the final step in preparation for priestly ordination in the Society of Jesus.
On May 23, two Canadian and two American Jesuits were among the five Jesuits ordained deacons by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, SJ, at two separate Masses at Our Lady of Lourdes in Toronto: Jean Francky Guerrier, SJ; Adam Lalonde, SJ; Christopher Kellerman, SJ; and Trevor Rainwater, SJ. Fr. Kevin Kelly, SJ, was also ordained to the priesthood at one of the Masses.
Five Jesuits were ordained to the diaconate and one to the priesthood at two Masses in Toronto on May 23.
On June 20, Jack Krouse, SJ, was ordained to the diaconate at Saint Ignatius Church in Paris. Bishop Philippe Marsset, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Paris, presided at the Mass, during which 10 other Jesuits were also ordained deacons. Krouse is currently studying theology at Centre Sevres in Paris.
On June 24, Gérard Myriam Paul, SJ, was ordained a deacon at Notre-Dame de Quebec Basilica-Cathedral in Quebec City. He is currently in theology studies at Regis College in Toronto.
Eight U.S. Jesuits were ordained to the diaconate on Sept. 19 in Boston by Cardinal Seán O’Malley, OFM Cap. The Jesuits ordained were: L. Xavier Benavides, SJ; Daniel Gustafson, SJ; Michael Lamanna, SJ, Aaron Malnick, SJ; Martin Ngo, SJ; James Page, SJ; Brian Strassburger, SJ; and William Woody, SJ. Two Jesuits were also ordained to the priesthood at the Mass: Patrick Nshombo Mugisho, SJ, and Reginald Tochi Nwakolobi, SJ.
The new deacons are all studying theology at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Eight Jesuits were ordained deacons on Sept. 19 in Boston.
Eight American Jesuits were also ordained as deacons on Oct. 24 by Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, SJ, Bishop of Oakland, at the Church of Santa Maria in Orinda, California. The Jesuits ordained there were: Thomas Bambrick, SJ; Jeffrey Dorr, SJ; John Guyol, SJ; Louis Hotop, SJ; Robert Karle, SJ; Dayne Malcolm, SJ; Hung Nguyen, SJ; and Zachariah Presutti, SJ. These new deacons are currently studying theology at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California.
Eight Jesuits were ordained deacons Oct. 24 in Moraga, California.
On Nov. 5, Jeffery Sullivan, SJ, was ordained to the diaconate by the Most Reverend George J. Lucas, Archbishop of Omaha, at St. John’s Parish at Creighton University. He currently works in campus ministry at Creighton.
Jeff Sullivan, SJ, (second from left) was ordained to the diaconate on Nov. 5 in Omaha.
Two American Jesuits, Brad Mills, SJ, and Daniel Mora Arenas, SJ, were among the Jesuits ordained as deacons on Nov. 27 at the Jesuit parish, La Iglesia de San Ignacio, in Bogotá, Colombia, by the Most Reverend Luis Jose Rueda, Archbishop of Bogotá. Both U.S. Jesuits are studying theology in Colombia.
Two U.S. Jesuits, Brad Mills, SJ (third from right), and Daniel Mora Arenas, SJ (second from right), were ordained to the diaconate on Nov. 27 in Bogotá.
The new deacons were ordained as part of their formation to become priests, and they are authorized to proclaim the Word of God, to preach and to preside at the sacraments of baptism and marriage and at the rite of Christian burial. Learn more about the stages of Jesuit formation at BeaJesuit.org.