Transitional Diaconate Ordination 2021

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Transitional Diaconate Ordination 2021

The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, ordained Rev. Mr. Daniel Mikolajewski, Rev. Mr. Cuong Van Nguyen, and Rev. Mr. Roarke (Rory) Traynor to the transitional diaconate at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Manchester on Saturday, May 29.

The diaconate is the first of three ranks of ordained ministry in the Catholic Church, which also include the priesthood and the episcopacy, or the ministry of a bishop. Men studying for the priesthood are ordained as transitional deacons prior to beginning their final year of study before ordination to the priesthood. Deacons are able to preach at Mass, baptize, and celebrate weddings.

Bishop Libasci said, “In the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the foundation for their ministry, Deacons Mikolajewski, Traynor and Nguyen accept the role of ordained ministers of charity as they continue their formation toward priestly ministry. As deacons in the Church they are historically sharers with the bishop in care for the poor, seeking to fulfill the mandate of Jesus Christ. They receive the Book of the Gospels with the admonition to ‘believe what you read, teach what you believe, practice what you teach.’ May the joy that fills the Cathedral on this happy occasion remain in their hearts and in the hearts of all people of good will. May they be true disciples of our Lord and fruitful as they minister in His name.”

Daniel Mikolajewski is the son of Mr. Gregory and Mrs. Barbara Mikolajewski. He grew up in Bydgoszcz, Poland, where he was a member of Saint Nicholas Parish and graduated from Public General High School no. 9. He worked in retail before entering the Major Theological Seminary for the Diocese of Bydgoszcz. He subsequently entered the Novitiate of the Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius in Chicago and was later accepted into the theology program at Saints Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan, where he will begin his fourth year of Theology this fall. He was vested at ordination by Rev. Robert Slaton, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit, and has a summer assignment at the Parish of the Assumption in Dover.

Cuong Van Nguyen is the son of Mr. Vy and Mrs. Sinh Nguyen. A parishioner of Ke Gai Parish in the Diocese of Vinh, he grew up in Nghệ An Province, Vietnam, and attended Thai Lau High School. He earned an associate’s degree in philosophy from Saint Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate in Vietnam, and volunteered teaching catechism and English at parishes in Vietnam. He will begin his fourth year of Theology at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut, this fall. He was vested at ordination by Rev. David Harris and has a summer assignment at the Parish of the Holy Spirit in Keene.

Roarke (Rory) Traynor is the son of Mr. James H. and Mrs. Janice Traynor. A parishioner of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Hampton, he grew up in Chester, New Hampshire, and was homeschooled throughout elementary and high school. He worked as an accounting assistant before entering Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Rhode Island, where he earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Providence College. He will begin his fourth year of Theology at Saint Meinrad Seminary in Saint Meinrad, Indiana, this fall. He was vested at ordination by Rev. Volney DeRosia and has a summer assignment at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Manchester.

The Diocese of Manchester currently has 12 men preparing for the priesthood at seminaries in Brighton, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; Saint Meinrad, Indiana; Orchard Lake, Michigan; and Cromwell, Connecticut. For more information about vocations to the priesthood and religious life, visit www.catholicnh.org/vocations, or www.liveinblackandwhite.com.

Video

Photo Gallery

See a selection of photos from our day. Click on the images to see them enlarged. Photos courtesy of Jeff Dachowski, with additional photos courtesy of Michael Richards available on his website. In addition, photos of Rev. Mr. Cuong Van Nguyen's first Mass as a Transitional Deacon can be found here.