Ordination Update: 17 New Deacons for Scranton

Boom! The vocation keeps growing. A preview of yesterday’s big event:

During the Mass of Ordination, scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of St. Peter, Bambera will ordain the following men to serve permanently in the Order of Deacon:

Thomas V. Amoroso, Tobyhanna; Alan S. Baranski, Tobyhanna; William F. Behm, Mountain Top; Donald J. Crane, Wilkes-Barre; Albert V. Giacometti, Old Forge; Frank H. Hine, Wilkes-Barre; Michael S. Imbrogno, Wilkes-Barre; Walter G. Janoski, Exeter; André F. Kabacinski, Duryea; James R. Meizanis Sr., Larksville; José L. Mendoza, Mount Pocono; Vincent M. Oberto, Hazleton; Joseph P. Rodgers, Saylorsburg; James A. Rose Sr., West Pittston; Kevin L. Scheirer, East Stroudsburg; Thomas M. Spataro, Porters Lake; and Philip F. Zimich, Cresco.

These men have completed a five-year formation program and will become members of the threefold ordained ministry that consists of bishops, priests and deacons.

The deacon’s service has three aspects: word, worship and charity. He can perform certain ministerial functions such as administering baptism; serving as the deacon at the Mass, including proclaiming the Gospel, preaching the homily and distributing Holy Communion; bringing viaticum to the sick; presiding at wake services, funeral liturgies and burial rites, and with permission by the pastor, may celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony.

First picture of the new deacons below, via Facebook. See more here. Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!

[img attachment=”79915″ align=”aligncenter” size=”medium” alt=”croppedpic” /]