Posted May 4, 2021

Nine men who will be ordained permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia next month made a profession of faith and signed a solemn Oath of Fidelity before Bishop Timothy Senior, rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, who presided at a Liturgy of the Word in the seminary’s Immaculate Conception Chapel April 26. All ordained ministers to the diaconate, priesthood and episcopacy take the oath before ordination.

In signing the oaths, the men declare publicly that they believe all that the Catholic Church teaches and they promise to be faithful to that teaching in their ministry as deacons. The ceremony is a necessary step prior to ordination to the diaconate, as it documents the candidate’s willingness to uphold the teachings of the church in the ministry he exercises.

Archbishop Nelson Perez called the men to ordination April 1, and he will ordain them in the presence of their wives and families June 12 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.

The candidates are: Paul S. Ablaza, Joseph P. Boyle, Jesús M. Burgos, Kevin J. McDermott, Pascual Mota, Timothy L. Murphy, Diep Nguyen, Samuel O. Ujor and James J. White. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

  • Bishop Timothy Senior, rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (right) leads a Liturgy of the Word for the permanent diaconate community April 26 in Immaculate Conception Chapel at the seminary.

  • Kevin McDermott and his diaconate classmates make a profession of faith during the liturgy.

  • The deacon candidates and others pray Evening Prayer together.

  • Bishop Senior signs the oath of fidelity with deacon candidate Samuel Ujor and his wife Tobertha, as Deacon Charles Lewis (center) observes.

  • Jesus Burgos takes his oath on the Book of Gospels, with the support of his wife, Yvette.

  • Kevin McDermott signs his Oath of Fidelity as his wife Marcy supports him.

  • Deacon candidate Timothy Murphy publicly proclaims his oath in the presence of Bishop Timothy Senior, Deacon Charles Lewis and Murphy’s wife Corinne.

  • In a tradition, the men in formation and their wives line the hallway from Immaculate Conception Chapel and clap out the nine men of this year’s permanent deacon class and their wives. The men will leave the chapel as lay persons for the last time, and will be ordained deacons June 12.

  • Bishop Senior and Msgr. Gregory Fairbanks, dean of the School of Diaconal Formation at St. Charles Seminary, pose proudly with this year’s deacon candidates and their wives following the liturgy.