Posted May 13, 2021

Archbishop Nelson Perez ordained nine men transitional deacons, including six for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, during a Mass on Saturday, May 8 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. The six deacons for Philadelphia were Andrew J. Auletta, Sang Woo Chi, Henry F. Graebe, Andrew F. Lane, Ryan Nguyen and Roneld Saint Louis. Deacon Lane hopes that after his priestly ordination and three years of service for the Philadelphia Archdiocese, he will minister as a U.S. Navy chaplain for the Archdiocese of the Military Services.

The other three deacons were Nobel Pathang of the Diocese of Mymensingh, Bangladesh; Pramod Ranjuna Perera of the Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka; Mihindukulasooriya Marlon Rashmika Vass of the Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

All the deacons will be ordained priests after a year of further study and service in parishes. (Photos by Bradley Digital)

  • A seminarian of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary leads the entrance procession into the cathedral.

  • Andrew Auletta walks in procession past family and friends in the congregation.

  • Archbishop Nelson Perez greets well wishers in the congregation.

  • Each of the candidates signals he is “present” to receive the sacrament of holy orders as a deacon.

  • Archbishop Perez speaks to the deacon candidates in his homily during the rite.

  • The candidates lie prostrate on the floor of the cathedral as prayers are sung over them.

  • With a prayer and the laying on of hands, the archbishop ordains the deacons.

  • Deacon Volodymyr Radko places a stole on the shoulder of a newly ordained deacon.

  • Deacon Andrew Lane accepts the Book of Gospels, “whose herald you now are,” according to the rite, from the archbishop.

  • The new deacons each exchange a sign of peace with the archbishop.

  • The new deacons exit the cathedral to the sounds of applause from the congregation.

  • Archbishop Perez and Bishop Timothy Senior pose for a photo with the new transitional deacons.