CONGRATULATIONS Edward, On Your Diaconate Ordination!

On Saturday, May 20th, at Cathedral of St. Francis in Metuchen one of our very own parishioners was ordained to the diaconate. This news should fill us all with great joy!

A deacon is ordained to be a witness to the Gospel through a life of service. He serves through his person-to-person encounters: he ministers to the poor, the aged, the sick, prisoners. The deacon also assists at the Eucharistic Celebration, administers baptisms, witnesses marriages, officiates at wakes and funerals, administers some sacramentals, and presides at prayer services, i.e., communion services and benediction. The deacon has the flexibility to dedicate his special talents under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through the Church, to contribute to the mission of the Church within his own community.

So once again congratulations, Ed! Welcome to St. Catherine as a deacon, and as a servant in your community! Congratulations also to your wife, Renee and all of your family for the gift you have received from God! May God bless your ministry here with abundant fruits of holiness.

We thank God for such a great gift that he wanted all of us here at St. Catherine to have. We are fortunate to have four deacons! Deacon Dennis Webster (who, though "retired," still finds his way to serve!), Deacon Tony Russo, Deacon Stephen Kassebaum, and now Deacon Edward Ciszewski.

It is a sign that the Lord watches over us and accompanies us. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit who encourages us to be faithful to His infinite love and to respond generously as well, in the examples of Denis, Tony, Steven and Edward, to the calling of God to us throughout our lives.