It takes a family to serve

16 Oct 2013

By Robert Hiini

Perth man Christian Irdi and his family following his ordination to the diaconate in St Peter’s Basilica along with fellow Perth seminarian Mark Baumgarten on October 3. PHOTO: North American College

Two Perth men studying for the priesthood in Rome have been ordained Deacons at St Peter’s Basilica, with one of the men going on to serve for Pope Francis at the Mass for Our Lady of Fatima, last Sunday.

Christian Irdi and regular Record contributor Mark Baumgarten entered the diaconate on October 3 at the hands of Cardinal James Harvey.

Both men are in their fourth year of studying in Rome in preparation for being ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Perth in mid-2014.

They were ordained along with 39 of their Pontifical North American College fellows, including Matthew Baldwin from Melbourne, with eight bishops and around 300 concelebrating priests surrounding the altar.

Deacon Irdi said the experience of serving at the papal Mass last Sunday, part of Marian celebrations culminating in Pope Francis consecrating the world to Our Lady, was a moving one.

“My vocation came to me by means of Our Lady of Fatima, and I have had a devotion to her from a very young age,” Mr Irdi said.

“It was a tremendous privilege and a great act of divine providence through her maternal intercession.”

Mr Irdi also spoke glowingly of his ordination to the diaconate and of what it meant to serve God and his people, as a deacon.

“The experience of prostrating on the marble of the sanctuary of St Peter’s… of laying down my own life before God only metres away from St Peter’s tomb and the place of his own martyrdom was incredibly powerful for me…

“I am more aware than ever before of my own nothingness before the infinite power and love of God, realising most clearly that Holy Orders is a supreme but unmerited gift, given to those whom Christ calls,” Mr Irdi said.

Mr Baumgarten, whose face became known to millions earlier this year as that of the “We will miss you” sign-holding seminarian following Pope Benedict’s resignation, described his ordination as a “definitive moment”.

“Since I’d been away from the Church for a while prior to entering seminary, I was never in a rush to get formation over and done with,” Deacon Baumgarten told The Record.

“I’ve been glad for the slow thoroughness of it all, as I needed to relearn the faith as much as learn how to be a priest. That said, the last couple of years I’ve been feeling both a greater confidence in my call and a growing desire to engage in ministry.”

“It’s been a great joy to take this definitive step into Holy Orders, particularly given that I’ve been able to do it alongside such fine brothers in my class.”

As he approached the altar for the laying of hands, his thoughts were about the people of Perth.

“I was very consciously carrying both my family and the whole Church of Perth with me, knowing that no vocation occurs in isolation but that it rather stems from and is for a community of faith.”

Prior to studying in Rome, Deacon Baumgarten spent three-and-a-half years at St Charles Seminary and Deacon Irdi, two-and-a-half years at Good Shepherd seminary in Sydney.

Following their ordination, the men and Melbournian Deacon Matthew Baldwin, celebrated with Mass at Domus Australia.