Search
-
October 5, 2023Archdiocese of Oklahoma City seminarian Stephen Jones among those ordained by Archbishop Coakley
On Thursday, Sept. 28, 18 seminarians from the Pontifical North American College were ordained to the transitional diaconate during a celebration of the Eucharist by Archbishop Paul Coakley.
The Mass and ordinations took place at the Altar of the Chair of Saint Peter, in the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican. Among those ordained to the transitional diaconate was Stephen Jones, a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Other attendees from Oklahoma included Father Kelly Edwards, Father Jerome Krug, Father John Paul Lewis, Father Richard Stansberry along with participants in a pilgrimage sponsored by the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma.
Archbishop Coakley said in his homily to the deacon candidates that they would be serving in a church that has more in common today with the early apostolic period of the church than the period church that was known as the period of Christendom when church and society were interwoven.
During the ordination, the new deacons promised to live a life of prayer, celibacy, and obedience to their diocesan bishops. The new deacons will have an additional year of theological studies and spiritual formation before being ordained to the priesthood in their home dioceses. They now join the eight members of their class who have already been ordained transitional deacons in the preceding months.
The Pontifical North American College serves as the American seminary in Rome. Founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX, the College has formed more than 5,000 priests near the heart of the Church for service in dioceses around the United States, Canada and Australia.
Photo: (Above) Archbishop Coakley layed hands on eminarian Stephen Jones on Sept. 28 during the transitional diaconate celebration of the Eucharist in Rome. Photo Fr. Rick Stansberry.
CNS photo Lola Gomez
