Seminarian Matt at Bat!

It is hard to believe that summer has arrived! I’m sure many of us look forward to the lineup of vacations, parish events, and personal rest and relaxation.

In a similar way, the Church has its own summer lineup - we return to Ordinary Time, celebrate Corpus Christi with our Eucharistic procession, welcome everyone for SummerFest, take our youth and young adults on the mission trip, and do so much more to mark these special summer months.

The Church also marks the summer months by ordaining men to the diaconate and the priesthood, and this year, I am excited to share the good news of my ordination to the diaconate!

This Saturday, June 7th (10:00am at St. Alexis Church, St. Aidan Parish, Wexford), Bishop Mark will ordain my four classmates and me transitional deacons (indicating that we are advancing to priesthood ordination). I can honestly say that I have no idea what to expect as I assume this important role in the Church, but I am grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and support!

After my ordination and first preaching Mass, you will see me serving as a deacon in the usual ways - proclaiming the Gospel, preaching, assisting at the altar, and presiding over some liturgical celebrations, but all of these external roles and functions point to the real change that takes place at ordination.

Moments after I am ordained, Bishop Mark will place the Book of the Gospels in my hands and say, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become.” The deacon’s most essential task is to announce God’s love to the world: to serve as a herald, an envoy, or an emissary of that love! All of the functions listed above should point to and point out God’s love for us, and I ask for your prayers as my classmates and I begin our lives as heralds of God’s love and our service to the Church in ordained ministry!

Seminarian Matt Selzer