Posted May 12, 2017

Bishop John McIntyre conferred the ministry of acolyte on seven seminarians of the Philadelphia Archdiocese along with 24 men in formation for the permanent diaconate May 6 at St. Charles Seminary. As a role of their ministry on the path toward reception of holy orders, the men are empowered to distribute holy Communion to the faithful. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

The Philadelphia seminarians (home parish noted) included:

David Buffum, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Morton
Marco A. Casanova, St. Martha, Kingwood, Texas
Alessandro P. Giardini, St. Joseph, Dowingtown,
David P. O’Brien, St. Peter, West Brandywine
Alexander W. Pancoast, St. Ephrem, Bensalem
Quy Pham, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Philadelphia
Anthony M. Raymundo, St. Agnes, West Chester

The Philadelphia deacon candidates (home parish noted) included:

James M. Browne, Holy Family Parish, Philadelphia
Melvin A. Burton, St. Martin de Porres Parish, Philadelphia
Michael J. Cipressi, St. Philip Neri Parish, Lafayette Hill
Matthew D. Coyne, St. Joseph Parish, Downingtown
Robert G. Flynn, St. Philip Neri Parish, Lafayette Hill
John S. Gray, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Doylestown
William J. Griffin, St. Anselm Parish, Philadelphia
Jonathan P. Hess, St. Elizabeth Parish, Upper Uwchlan
Christopher J. Hilden, St. Anastasia Parish, Newtown Square
Steven M. Javie, St. Andrew Parish, Newtown
Dr. Dwight C. Johnson, St. Agnes Parish, West Chester
John J. Knesis, Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, Philadelphia
Stephen J. Martino, St. Norbert Parish, Paoli
David J. Matour, St. Teresa of Avila Parish, Norristown
Eugene J. McNally, St. Christopher Parish, Philadelphia
Kevin T. Mead, St. Elizabeth Parish, Upper Uwchlan
Mario G. Mirabelli, St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Horsham
Albert J. Murphy, St. Gabriel Parish, Norwood
John K. Murray, Queen of the Universe Parish, Levittown
Phuong T. Nguyen, St. Maria Goretti Parish, Hatfield
Michael P. Nungesser, St. Isidore Parish, Quakertown
Gary D. Schoenenberger, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Hilltown
Raymond H. Thuel, St. Agnes Parish, Sellersville
Anthony O. Willoughby, St. Barnabas Parish, Philadelphia

  • David O’Brien (left) and Quy Pham are excited to receive the ministry of acolytes as it is one step closer to their ordination to the priesthood.

  • Anthony Raymundo (left) and Alexander Pancoast pray during Mass.

  • Anthony Raymundo is installed in the ministry of acolytes by Bishop John McIntyre.

  • Permenant diaconate candidate Anthony Willoughby is installed to the ministy of acolytes by Bishop John McIntyre.

  • Newly conferred acolyte David O’Brien prays during Mass.

  • The acolytes of 2017 include seminarians and men in Philadelphia’s diaconate formation program.

  • The new acolytes in the diaconate program pose with their wives.