18 U.S. SEMINARIANS ORDAINED DEACONS IN ST. PETER’S BASILICA – TWO CARDINALS-DESIGNATE SPEAK TO VATICAN NEWS

18 U.S. SEMINARIANS ORDAINED DEACONS IN ST. PETER’S BASILICA

This morning, at the beautiful and historic Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica, 18 young men, seminarians at the North American College, were ordained transitional deacons. They represent 14 U.S. dioceses and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.

This always one of my favorite liturgical events of the entire year. To watch these young men as their lives are changed forever in a brief and beautiful ceremony, is awe-inspiring. Family members and friends came in great numbers, including 40 Americans from Aviano Air Force Base in northern Italy who told me they have been blessed to have 3 of the new deacons come for visits and some evangelization over the years. One guest told me, “we just had to be present for such a momentous occasion!”

One of my favorite moments is when the newly-ordained deacons, wearing their dalmatics, process down the main aisle to a table bearing chalices, and then process back to the sanctuary with those chalices. I love the expressions on their faces – awe, wonderment, a big but holy smile, an awareness of a new responsibility.

USCCB photo:

The seminarians are ordained to the diaconate at the start of their fourth year in Rome. At the end of this year, they will return to their home dioceses where they will be ordained priests.

For the first time in the years I have attended this event, I was not in a good position to take decent photos, but here is a link to video and photos on the site of U.S. bishops: https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/18-us-seminarians-ordained-deacons-st-peters-basilica#:~:text=Deacons%20for%20a%20synodal%20church,heal%20divisions%20in%20the%20church.

TWO CARDINALS-DESIGNATE SPEAK TO VATICAN NEWS

New Cardinal Chow Sau-yan: Pope Francis has a nickname – the Pope of Surprises

The 21 new cardinals-elect did not know they will be appointed. That is why Pope Francis is called the Pope of Surprises, says one of the new cardinals, Stephen Chow Sau-yan, bishop of Hong Kong.

By Sr. Nina Benedikta Krapić, VMZ

Prior to the consistory for the appointment of 21 new cardinals to be held on 30 September 30, the cardinals-elect met with the press at the Holy See Press Office.

Cardinals from around the world expressed their surprise at the appointments made by Pope Francis. We spoke with newly elected Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, bishop of Hong Kong.

“Pope Francis has a nickname, the Pope of surprises,” he said and explained how he received the news of his election.

“I was not told. I got the news from some friends in Rome. I was having dinner with my family. And I said, did you send the wrong person? They said, no, it’s not wrong, check the Angelus. I was really surprised”, said Chow Sau-yan. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-09/cardinal-chow-sau-yan-consistory.html

Cardinal-elect Brislin: The position of a cardinal is about serving

Ahead of Saturday’s consistory, when Pope Francis will appoint 21 new cardinals, newly elected Cardinal Stephen Brislin, archbishop of Cape Town, spoke with Vatican News about his new role. “It’s not about an honor, it’s about serving”, he said.
By Sr. Nina Benedikta Krapić, VMZ

The Holy Father will celebrate a consistory for the appointment of 21 new cardinals on Saturday, 30 September 2023, at the Vatican. The new cardinals come from all over the world. Prior to the consistory, the new cardinals met with the press on 28 September, at the Holy See Press Office.

Stephen Brislin, archbishop of Cape Town in South Africa, is one of the newly elected cardinals. He spoke to Vatican News, saying he was very shocked by the news of his appointment as cardinal. “I will try to be of service”, he said.

Cardinal Brislin was born Sept. 25, 1956, in Welkom. He studied Philosophy at St John Vianney, Pretoria, and Theology at the London Missionary Institute. He was ordained a priest in 1983. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Kroonstad, South Africa, and he was ordained Jan. 28, 2007. On Dec. 18, 2009, he was elected archbishop of Cape Town. He also served as president of the South African Bishops’ Conference.

Speaking to Vatican News, Cardinal Brislin highlighted that the role of a cardinal is about serving.

“Pope Francis has really made that a very important point, it’s not about an honour or a privilege it’s about serving the Church and serving God’s kingdom. I will try to faithfully do that as best I can, but I’ve got a lot to learn”, says Cardinal Brislin. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-09/cardinal-brislin-south-africa-consistory.html

13 TO BE ORDAINED DEACONS AT MUNDELEIN SEMINARY – PAPAL AUDIENCE CATECHESIS FOCUSES ON HUMAN DIGNITY

13 TO BE ORDAINED DEACONS AT MUNDELEIN SEMINARY

Ryan Brady, a seminarian at Mundelein Our Lady of the Lake Seminary in Chicago will be ordained a transitional deacon this afternoon at 4 pm Chicago time in Mundelein’s chapel. I will be up late here in Rome to watch that beautiful ceremony online (https://usml.edu/aoc-diaconate-ordination/) when Ryan joins 12 other young men in the diaconate. Ten will become deacons for the Archdiocese of Chicago, two for the diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana in Uganda and one for the American Province of the Vincentians.

Say a prayer for all of these wonderful young men. It is my heartfelt intention to be in Chicago in May 2021 for Ryan’s ordination to the priesthood as we have a special bond – the bond of a chalice that was in my family for decades that is now in Ryan’s hands.

Here is the story of that chalice and our friendship: https://joansrome.wordpress.com/2019/01/11/a-chalice-goes-home/

PAPAL AUDIENCE CATECHESIS FOCUSES ON HUMAN DIGNITY

The second general audience of August took place this morning in the papal library of the Apostolic Palace and was carried online as has been the custom now for many months due to the Covid-19 crisis. When he resumed the weekly general audiences on August 5, after a staycation in the Vatican, Pope Francis announced a new series of catechesis and spoke of that as he introduced today’s audience.

“Dear Brothers and Sisters,” began Francis, “in our continuing catechesis on the effects of the current pandemic in the light of the Church’s social doctrine, we now consider the theme of human dignity.”

He explained that “the pandemic has made us more aware of the spread within our societies of a false, individualistic way of thinking, one that rejects human dignity and relationships, views persons as consumer goods and creates a “throw away” culture. In contrast, faith teaches that we have been created in God’s image and likeness, made for love and for communion of life with him, with one another and with the whole of creation.”

“In the light of faith,” continued the Pope, “we know instead that God looks at a man and a woman in another manner. He created us not as objects but as people loved and capable of loving; He has created us in His image and likeness. In this way He has given us a unique dignity, calling us to live in communion with Him, in communion with our sisters and our brothers, with respect for all creation.”

The Holy Father said that, “Jesus tells us that true discipleship consists in following his example by spending ourselves in service of others. Our God-given dignity and the rights that arise from it are the ultimate foundation of all social life, and have serious social, economic and political implications. In responding to the pandemic we Christians are called to combat all violations of human dignity as contrary to the Gospel, and to work for the well-being of our whole human family and our common home.”

Pope Francis was joined in the papal library by monsignori from the Secretariat of State – seated at safe distances from each other – who read syntheses of the audience catechesis in several languages.

In greetings to Arabic faithful, the Pope, said: I greet the Arabic-speaking faithful. The Bible teaches that every human being was created out of love, made in the image and likeness of God. This statement shows us the immense dignity of every person, who is not just something, but someone. He is capable of knowing himself, of possessing himself, of giving himself freely and of entering into communion with others. The Lord bless you all and always protect you from all evil!

In greetings to faithful from Poland, Francis said: “I cordially greet the Polish faithful. In particular, I spiritually accompany the hundreds of pilgrims who walk from Warsaw, Krakow and other cities to the Shrine of the Black Madonna. May this pilgrimage, made with caution because of the pandemic, be a time of reflection, prayer and fraternity in faith and love for all. August 15 marks the centenary of the historic victory of the Polish army, called “Miracle on the Vistula” that your ancestors attributed to Mary’s intervention. Today may the Mother of God help humanity to defeat the coronavirus. To you, your families and the Polish people, I assure you abundant graces. I heartily bless you!”