The names of dozens of saints echoed throughout the walls of St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth, on Friday evening, 22 May, as four deacons-elect lay prostrate on the sanctuary floor and prayed for their intercession.
More than 800 people gathered to witness the ordination of Rodrigo De Costa Ponte, Giovanni Raffaele and David Adan Ramirez, formed within the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Morley, and Matthew Hodgson, formed within the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Sydney.
The momentous occasion was presided by Auxiliary Bishop of Perth, Donald Sproxton and saw recently ordained deacons Israel Quirit and Stephen Gorddard minister during the celebration.
In his homily for the occasion, Bishop Sproxton made reference to the impending feast of Pentecost, emphasising the importance of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon men chosen to be ministers of Christ’s message to the world.
He then directly addressed the deacons-elect, making a number of poignant remarks.
“Rodrigo, Matthew, Giovanni and David, I hope that you will feel comforted by that powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, the spirit who has been with you form the day of your Baptisms, who has been able to discern that vocation that the Lord has called you to.
“You will receive that Holy Spirit tonight, in this ordination that will enable you to become the best minsters of charity. Because if not already, you will experience the justifying power of the spirit in your new ministry. The spirit will make up for what is lacking in you, he will surprise you.”
In light of the Gospel of the day, John 25:15-19, in which Peter is questioned three times by Christ about his love for Him, Bishop Sproxton explained that there are two kinds of love present within this passage: the love of being attracted, or attached to Jesus, which Peter instinctively feels, and a second love, the love of Christ, which is sacrificial and outward looking.
Bishop Sproxton explained that this selfless, limitless love for the other which is asked of the deans-elect is a wonderful thing to aim for and it is a terrible thing.
“How can we love in this way?” asked the Bishop.
“My prayer tonight and hope is that for our deacons, as for all of us, we put aside our fear.
“That we not be afraid to aspire to the love of Christ even when it will seem far above us and terrible in what it calls from us.”
The ceremony continued with the Election of the Candidates, which saw the rectors of the two seminaries, Fr Michael Moore and Fr Danny Meagher, formally request from the Bishop that the men be ordained to the responsibility of the Diaconate.
This was followed by the Promise of the Elect, the soul-stirring Litany of Saints, the Laying of Hands and Prayer of Ordination, the Investiture of Diaconal Stole and Dalmatic, the Handing of the Book of Gospels and Holy Communion.
In a previous interview with Communications and Media journalist Marco Ceccarelli, the four deacons-elect looked back on the journey to the diaconate and reflected on the significance of having reached this significant milestone.
Originally from the town of Messina, Sicily, 29 year old Giovanni Raffaele had planned to become a chef during his teenage years, and while already in the advanced stages of a course in hospitality felt called to enter the seminary.
“I was in a relationship with a girl when I felt this call. After a period of discernment, I felt that the Church was asking me to see what God wanted from my life. I began to see that perhaps my desire for true fulfilment was not coming from this relationship.
“I therefore left my girlfriend, gave more space to God and continued to discern whether this vocation was true. Within a year I found myself in Perth, beginning my life in the seminary. Through many struggles I now see that this is the place where the Lord wanted me.”
At the doorstep of his entry into the diaconate, Giovanni commented on the magnitude of what was being asked of him, concluding that he could only fulfil this ministry with the help of God.
“To be a deacon, to serve and minister, is truly a big task. All my life I’ve been served by others. My family, friends, to a degree also in the seminary. So I see that the entry into this new plan of life that the Lord is entrusting to us with that is huge. Without the help of God I could not do this.” Giovanni said.
A similar realisation of the importance of his vocation was experienced by 27-year-old David Adan Ramirez Nieves, from the Colombian city of Valledupar.
“I see the role of deacon as both a big responsibility and an important call from the Lord.” David said.
“This has to come from Him, it has to be His grace, because nothing comes from me or my strength, God is the one who comes to my aid. I feel that we are ordained for a mission: to evangelise and to communicate to others that Jesus Christ brings salvation to everyone.”
Having originally struggled to find himself in a country where both the language and culture were different from his own, David commented on how supported he has felt, both by God and the seminary, throughout these years.
“If there are two things that have struck me over this time, they are the providence and my ability to be obedient. Seeing how I have lived in providence and that I have lacked nothing over this time has been a real sign of God’s love for me.
“Also the obedience. Initially I struggled to obey, I saw things as contrary to my reasoning. I have seen that slowly the Lord has helped me in this and today I am happy in obeying and see the fruits of by obedience.
“I see these things as crucial to my formation and believe they have contributed to me entering into the diaconate,” David added.
Rodrigo De Costa Ponte, 27-years-old, originally form Brasilia, Brazil, felt called to the seminary around the time in which his parents’ broken marriage was being rebuilt through the Church.
“I felt the Church very close during this difficult time within my family. Seeing my parents reconcile filled me with gratitude, and around this time I felt that my vocation was beginning to manifest itself,” he said.
Impressed by his ability to live in communion with the brothers within the Redemptoris Mater Seminary which has formed him over the past nine years, Rodrigo expressed his joy at having arrived to such an important stage in his journey to the priesthood.
“I am extremely happy to making this step, the time has passed quickly for me. Knowing myself, it is truly by the grace of God that I can enter into this ministry and serve the other.
Finally, having travelled 4000kms from Sydney to return to the city where he grew up and where he will now serve as deacon, Matthew Hodgson said he is driven by an overriding feeling of gratitude and hopes to help young people appreciate their faith.
“I see the role of the deacon as one that is there for people in critical, significant moments. The deacon is present in joyous times too, but I hope to be a spiritual guide for people going through difficult times,” Matthew said.
“I also hope that more young people will appreciate their faith. This is a focus area for the church and through my ministry I would like to engage with young people and try to keep the faith being handed down from generation to generation,” he added.
Drawn to a course advertised on the Sydney World Youth Day website that trained young people into Christian leaders, Matthew experienced a watershed moment in 2006 which saw his vocation grow significantly.
“Towards the end of that three month leadership course in Sydney I was really open to my vocation. In the meantime I come back to Perth, did some casual work at WYD office here and that led to employment in 2008, working at Pastoral Centre in Highgate for 12 months.
“During this time I discerned my vocation. It was an incredibly positive experience because I saw the Church at its best. Due to these experiences I eventually joined the seminary in 2009.”
The four newly elected deacons will be appointed by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB to serve within parishes of the Archdiocese of Perth in the coming weeks.