Ordination update: 2 new deacons for the Archdiocese of Military Services

Details from the Archdiocese website:  

The Archdiocese for the Military Services(AMS)celebrated the ordination of two permanent deacons for service to those who serve. Roy Mellon and Joseph Pak, both American citizens and members of the AMS faithful working inthe Republic of Korea, were ordained Saturday in a solemn Mass in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

While dozens of deacons incardinated in other dioceses already serve with faculties and endorsement from the AMS on United States military installations, at VA Medical Centers and in the archdiocesan chancery, Deacons Mellon and Pakhave been incardinated directly from the archdiocese. Both will minster to U.S. military personnel and their families in Korea, where the new deacons and their wives are longtime residents and the men are active leaders in the Knights of Columbus (K of C), the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization.

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, administered the ordination through the imposition of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Saint Bartholomew. The Mass was concelebrated by all four AMS Auxiliary Bishops: the Most Reverend Richard B. Higgins, the Most Reverend F. Richard Spencer, the Most Reverend Neal J. Buckon, and the Most Reverend Robert J. Coyle, along with other priests, including AMS Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, Monsignor John J.M. Foster, J.C.D. Fathers Michael Albano and Kenneth Carlson, who were instrumental in the last phase of the formation of the new deacons, were also present.  The AMS Chancellor, Deacon Mike Yakir assisted. Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson attended the Mass, along with a K of C honor guard, members of the new deacons’ families, AMS staffers and others.

In his homily just before administering ordination, Archbishop Broglio addressed the two candidates directly:

“… I wanted to ordain you on the Feast of an Apostle, because you are being sent forth in the context of this Year of Faith. Your ordination and incardination represent an experiment in the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. You will make an important contribution to the life of the faithful of this Archdiocese in Korea, but none of us knows how everything will work out.  None of us is certain about the dimensions of your future service.  None of us is certain if you will also be the only deacons ordained directly to serve the AMS.

“I imagine that the Apostles did not know that most of those first deacons would die martyrs.  You will certainly be martyrs in the sense of witnesses, but the specifics of the development of your ministry remain in the mind of God.”

Go here to read the full text of Archbishop Broglio’s homily.

And read more about the two men ordained here.  

Congratulations and welcome, brothers!  Ad multos annos!