Ordination Review

Life as a transitional deacon has been great so far. Especially since moving into the parish to begin my assignment, it has been a very great experience through this first month. The best part, for me, so far has been preaching. Having the opportunity to give a homily at Mass, on Sunday and during the week, putting preparation into my Sunday homily during the week and tweaking on it and changing things during the week while praying about it have helped me to become a better preacher and improve on my own confidence when giving a homily. Also, being a deacon at the first Mass of a priest-friend from New York was also a great experience and honor for me.

Seeing the happiness of the people at the parish has been great to witness, as they are very happy to have a transitional deacon be at their parish. Whether it’s simply taking the time to talk to people before, or after Mass, during the week at various activates at the parish, or blessing things after the Spanish Mass on Sunday afternoon, being able to interact with parishioners at the parish has been another highlight for me.

Lastly as for the ordination itself, the Mass felt pretty surreal in a lot of ways, for example with all my friends and family being there for me and the ordination being at my home parish all contributed to the surreal experience. It was a moment of great grace and humility that, after being at so many ordinations for so many people over the years, and for it to finally be my own ordination, made me very thankful to God for choosing me to be a deacon and God-willing, a priest.