St Catherine’s To Have First Service of Ordination-This Day in Norwood History-June 2, 1955

Bishop To Ordain 19 In Norwood Saturday

Solemn Rites First For Local Parish

Bishop Minihan to Ordain Nineteen at St. Catherine of Siena — First Ordination Ever Held in the Parish

A historic milestone will take place in Norwood on Saturday, June 4, at 9:30 a.m., when the Sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred for the first time within the walls of St. Catherine of Siena Church. The ordaining prelate will be Most Rev. Jeremiah F. Minihan, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, who—despite having ordained candidates in numerous parishes and seminaries—has never before conducted an ordination in his own home parish.

Ten to Be Ordained Priests

A total of nineteen candidates will receive orders during the solemn Ember Saturday liturgy. Of these, ten will be ordained to the priesthood, including:

• Rev. Thomas S. Greene, son of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Greene of 41 Orchard Hill Road, Forest Hills, who will serve as a secular priest in the Diocese of Springfield.
• Rev. Thomas Edward McCauley, known in religion as Brother Daniel, of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, whose novitiate is located in Brookline.
• Eight LaSalette Fathers: William Doherty, John Bradford, Giles Vecchio, John McWeeney, James Hogan, Joseph F. Maillous, William McNulty, and James Lowery.

The LaSalette Fathers, missionaries under the patronage of Our Lady of La Salette, maintain a seminary in Ipswich, where many of the candidates have completed their formation.

One Deacon and Eight Subdeacons

In addition to the priesthood candidates, one deacon will be ordained:

• Frater M. Paschal Balkan, of St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, a member of the Cistercians (Trappists). He will be ordained to the priesthood one week later, on June 11, at the abbey.

Eight candidates will be ordained subdeacons, all members of the LaSalette community:

John G. Repchick, Joseph Loftus, James B. Nolly, Alan McGuirk, John Zabelaka, Joseph Silva, Charles Bafge, and Robert Chagnon.

Understanding the Orders of the Church

The article explains in great detail the structure of Catholic Holy Orders. The clergy are divided into several ranks, with the three major orders established by Christ—bishop, priest, and deacon—forming the core of the sacramental hierarchy. The subdiaconate and the minor orders are of ecclesiastical origin, representing preparatory steps toward the priesthood.

Candidates for the subdiaconate and diaconate undergo years of formation, including:

• Two years of classical studies
• Two or more years of philosophy
• Three years of theology
• Additional spiritual formation in the novitiate for religious communities

Priesthood candidates complete an additional year of theological study.

Ember Saturday Tradition

June 4 falls on the Pentecostal Ember Saturday, one of the four Ember Days observed throughout the liturgical year. These days have long been favored for ordinations, though Holy Orders may be conferred at other times.

The Subdiaconate: Duties and Obligations

The subdeacon serves as the deacon’s assistant in solemn liturgies. His responsibilities include:

• Singing the Epistle at Solemn Mass
• Carrying the bread for the sacrifice
• Preparing the chalice and adding water to the wine

At this stage, the candidate becomes bound to the law of celibacy, unless he is already under vows in a religious community.

The subdeacon also assumes the obligation of reciting the Divine Office, the daily prayer of the Church.

During the ordination, the candidates lie prostrate during the chanting of the Litanies, one of the most ancient prayers of the Church. The bishop then instructs them on the responsibilities of their office and confers the order by handing each an empty chalice and paten, saying:

“See whose ministry is handed over to you. Therefore I admonish you to conduct yourselves in a manner pleasing to God.”

The new subdeacons are vested with the amice, maniple, and tunic, and are presented with the Book of Epistles, symbolizing their duty to proclaim Scripture.

The Diaconate: A Sacramental Order

The diaconate, unlike the subdiaconate, is a sacrament. The bishop confers it through the imposition of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit:

“Send forth upon him, we beg, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, by whom he may be strengthened in the faithful fulfillment of the work of Thy ministry…”

The deacon’s duties include:

• Assisting the priest at Mass
• Preparing and presenting the chalice
• Singing the Gospel
• Directing the congregation during liturgy
• Preaching on occasion
• Assisting in the distribution of Holy Communion
• Baptizing when delegated

The new deacon is vested with the stole (worn over the left shoulder) and the dalmatic, and receives the Book of Gospels.

The Priesthood: Fullness of the Sacramental Ministry

The ordination of priests takes place after the Sequence of the Mass. The bishop anoints the candidates’ hands with holy oil, symbolizing their consecration to God and their power to bless, sanctify, and consecrate.

A chalice with wine and water and a paten with bread are placed in their hands, signifying their authority to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass.

The newly ordained priests then concelebrate the Mass with the bishop, reciting all prayers aloud and participating fully in the consecration.

Before Communion, the bishop gives the Kiss of Peace, symbolizing unity in Christ. After receiving Communion from the bishop, the new priests participate in several concluding rites:

• Recitation of the Apostles’ Creed
• A second imposition of hands with the words:“Receive the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them…”
• The unfolding of the back of the chasuble, marking the completion of their ordination
• A formal promise of obedience and reverence to their ecclesiastical superior

The bishop concludes with a final admonition and blessing, directing the new clergy to pray for him and to celebrate Masses in honor of the Holy Ghost, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the faithful departed.

A Historic Day for Norwood

With these rites, Bishop Minihan will elevate nineteen men to the various orders of the Church, marking a profound moment in the history of St. Catherine of Siena Parish. The ordination of priests and deacons is understood in Catholic doctrine as the conferral of a permanent spiritual power, enabling the ordained to serve at the altar, proclaim the Gospel, forgive sins, and sanctify the faithful.

For Norwood, Saturday’s ceremony will be remembered as the day its parish church became, for the first time, the setting of one of the Church’s most ancient and sacred rites.

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