News from the Diocesan E-Scroll!!

Bishop Thomas Wenski has accepted Mr. Bernard Kiratu Ngugi, formerly of the Diocese of Pensacola – Tallahassee, as a seminarian of the Diocese of Orlando. He has fulfilled all the necessary seminary requirements, making him a suitable candidate for the order of deacons and consequently to the ministerial priesthood. Bishop Wenski, upon the recommendation of those in charge of his formation at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach and the good recommendation received by Bishop Ricard of the Diocese of Pensacola – Tallahassee, has formally called Mr. Kiratu for orders. He will be ordained a transitional deacon along with the 14 men who will be ordained permanent deacons for our diocese on Saturday June 13th at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. Please keep Mr. Kiratu in your prayers as we welcome him with joy to our diocese.

On June 13, 2009 Bishop Thomas Wenski will ordain fourteen men to the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Orlando. The following is a post from the Diocese of Orlando website.

All are invited to attend the ORDINATION TO THE DIACONATE on Saturday, June 13, 10:00 a.m. at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando. There are many reasons for the existence of the Permanent Diaconate in the Church, but all of them presume the praise of the Most Blessed Trinity.

The deacon’s sacred ministry is at the service of God’s revelation of Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The deacon’s work must serve to lead the people to know, love and serve the One and Triune God. The following men will take their place among the successors of the first deacons, in a close and sacramental partnership with the Bishop and priests of the Diocese of Orlando, a partnership in the Gospel of Christ. It is a vocation of special service to the people of God, special service closely associated with the priests. It is a service of charity; it is an outreach in the name of Jesus Christ and the Church. The service of each deacon is more than a personal contribution of an individual. It is part of the life of the Church and the mystery of Christ.

Please pray for these men and their families:

• Don Andrews, Resurrection, Lakeland
• Juan Contreras, St Rose of Lima
• Kevin Crawford, Our Lady of Grace
• Juan Cruz, St. Mary Magdalen
• Alan Espinoza, St. Isaac Jogues
• Joseph Gassman, Holy Name of Jesus
• Bruce Gesinski, Prince of Peace
• Norman Levesques, Sts. Peter & Paul
• Patrick McAvoy, Holy Family
• Michael Mintern, St Joseph, Palm Bay
• Robert Steve Roe, St. Joseph, Lakeland
• John Rumplasch, Jr., St. Mark the Evangelist
• Vincent Trunzo, Holy Name of Jesus
• Paul Volkerson, St. Charles

Special congratulations to Mr. Paul Volkerson! Mr. Volkerson is a member of my parish and has been very helpful to me this year as I have continued to discern priestly ministry.

May God bless all of these men and their families as they approach ordination.

It is so good to be back home in Orlando after my little vacation to the Eternal City. I wish I could have stayed a bit longer to finish out my list of things to see, however, I am grateful for the opportunity to experience the vast history of Rome and the Catholic church. All of the seminarians that went seemed to have a fantastic time. I especially enjoyed standing four feet away from Pope Benedict XVI. There will be a picture coming soon on that one! Now, getting to business…

Tomorrow morning, Bishop Thomas Wenki, D.D. will ordain Deacon Vilaire Philius to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Here is a brief press statement the Diocese of Orlando put out, introducing its newest priest.

The Lord’s call first came to Vilaire Philius as a youngster in Haiti preparing for his First Holy Communion. His aunt, who is deeply religious, helped him understand that God may be calling him to serve as a priest.

He grew up in the northwest agricultural area of Haiti in the city of St. Louis du Nord. He attended parochial school and had a close, loving family. In 1994, he joined the Salesian Order in Haiti. He later felt a calling to become a priest for the Diocese of Orlando where he felt there was a need for a Haitian priest to serve the people of the Diocese.

“I truly believe that my vocation is a gift. My time at the seminary has helped me understand and nourish this gift so that I can use it to serve others throughout my life. This is what I have been waiting for,” said Vilaire.

Tonight, the Seminarians from the Diocese of Orlando, plus priests and lay faithful gathered at St. James Cathedral for Vespers with Deacon Vilaire, Father Miguel Gonzalez (Vocations Director), Father Mark Wajda (Ordained to the priesthood last year), and Bishop Wenksi. Father Mark gave the homily, in which he told soon-to-be Father Philius to fall in love with his parish, his parishioners, and his priesthood everyday.

May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen Deacon Vilaire throughout his priesthood!

In my last post, I neglected to mention that Deacon Hector Vasquez will also be ordained on Saturday, May 31st at St. James Cathedral. The Ordination Mass will take place at 10:00am. All are invited to attend.

I have a lot to do tomorrow…meeting with our Pastor about an Altar Servers’ party, then meeting with a server. (We are creating a new website for the Altar Servers. Looking forward to it.)

On May 31, 2008, Deacon Mark Wajda will be ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Orlando at St. James Cathedral. He will say a Mass at St. Charles on June 8th at the 11am Mass. Please remember Deacon Mark (soon to be Fr. Mark) in your prayers!!