Three Ordained to Transitional Diaconate in the Diocese

By the Catholic Accent
Photos by Mary Seamans

GREENSBURG – a heavy rainstorm outside of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on Saturday, May 20, could not dampen the spirit of three seminarians who took another step towards their ordination to the priesthood.

Bishop Larry J. Kulick presided over the Mass to celebrate the Ordination to the Diaconate for Craig Alexander, David Slusarick and John Torres. The three new deacons will use the year ahead to prepare pastorally, liturgically and educationally for the priesthood.

“We are reminded that what we are doing here today is by no means a simple recognition of something they themselves have achieved,” Bishop Kulick said during his homily. “It is an act of unselfishness; it is an act of sacrifice. It is an act of unity, and it is an act in the way the Gospel is proclaimed.”

Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came ‘to serve and not to be served.’ By virtue of their sacramental ordination, the new deacons will be able to preach at weekend Masses, participating in or lead baptisms, weddings and funerals.

Bishop Kulick advised the newly ordained deacons to live a life of love and to open life in the spiritual realm. He urged them to serve the faithful in the image of Christ and to make the word of God a very dynamic presence in the life of the community.

“From the Gospels, draw that inspiration to pray to study and to preach,” Bishop Kulick said. “Preach the truth. People want the truth. The truth of Gid, the truth of the Church’s teachings in its tradition, its scripture and its magisterium. They’re longing for it. They’re thirsting for it. People are looking for direction and they are looking for leadership in our culture and in our time today. Be those leaders modeled after Christ.”

Deacon Alexander’s home parish is St. Agnes parish in Irwin. He has been assigned to St. Barbara Parish in Harrison City for the summer.

Deacon Slusarick’s home parish is St. Therese Little Flower of Jesus Parish in Uniontown. He has been assigned to Mother of Sorrows Parish in Murrysville for the summer.

Deacon John Torres, who is from Brazil, has named his home parish as St. Rita of Cascia in Connellsville. He has been assigned to the Catholic Community of Connellsville and Dunar

Other Summer Assignments:
Seminarians Mario Porreca and Tyler Randolph have been assigned for the summer to Our Lady of the Assumption, Coral & Lucernemines, PA

Seminarian Kevin Richardson has been assigned for the summer to
Church of the Resurrection, Northern Indiana County

The Most Reverend Larry J. Kulick, JCL Bishop of Greensburg, has accepted Into the Priestly Formation Program for the Diocese of Greensburg:

Matteo Arcara –  St. Paul Parish, Greensburg, PA
Propaedeutic Stage
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, PA

Thomas Oldenburg – Holy Family Parish, Latrobe, PA
Propaedeutic Stage
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, PA

Ryan Scavnicky – Immaculate Conception Parish, Irwin, PA
Propaedeutic Stage
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, PA