Father and Son Ordained Deacons at Same Mass

History happened last weekend in Green Bay: 

When David Parker informed his eldest child, Legionary Br. David Parker, Jr., that he was pursuing the diaconate again, the son had a question for his father: “How many years do you have in formation?”

“When he said five years, I literally started counting on my hands how many years of formation I had left,” said then Br. Parker in an interview with The Compass. “I said, ‘Dad, do you realize what this that means? We are on the same path right now to be ordained.’”

Their paths came together on Saturday, May 7, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. David and Br. David were ordained deacons by Bishop David Ricken. In addition to Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Deacon Parker will serve at St. Stanislaus Parish, Hofa Park, and St. Casimir Parish, Krakow. Deacon Parker, Jr., who studies at Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, is a transitional deacon who will be ordained a priest on Dec. 10 in Rome.

“This is a historic moment in our diocese,” said Bishop Ricken. “I don’t think that it’s ever happened where a father and son have been ordained deacons on the same day at the same Mass.”

…Father and son received a special blessing prior to the ordination Mass. A couple months ago in Rome, Deacon Parker, Jr., saw Pope Francis who had visited with students in a confession course.

“I asked the Holy Father for a blessing for me and my dad who will both be ordained together,” he explained. “He responded to me, ‘How beautiful,’ in Spanish.”

How beautiful, indeed! Ad multos annos!  Read the rest.

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Photos: Sam Lucero | The Compass