The deacon class on April 13 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center after receiving academic certificates of completion from Chaminade University. Also in the photo are members of the deacon formation team and Chaminade professors. (Photo courtesy of Office for Deacon Formation)
Thirteen men studying for the permanent diaconate will receive the rite of acolyte, the last major step before ordination, May 17 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center Chapel in Kaneohe. Bishop Larry Silva will confer the ministry.
An acolyte’s duty is to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations, the Mass in particular.
The deacon candidates are Joseph P. Aglia, Jose R. Almuena, Jr., Jose L. Ancheta, Keith A. Cabiles, William R. Friese, Romeo E. Ganibe, David E. Kane, Eric W. Kim, Stephen A. Kula, Raul A. Perez, Joseph T. Soon, John R. Tolentino and Michael E. Weaver.
They comprise the diocese’s seventh class of permanent deacons. Their ordinations are scheduled for January on three islands.
The men, plus three of the wives, completed in February their academic requirements, the equivalent of a minimum of 66 credits in theology, philosophy, Scripture, ecclesiology, canon law and homiletics taught by Chaminade University professors. They received certificates of completion on April 13.
Four of the candidates, Ancheta, Friese, Perez and Weaver, and two candidate wives, Easter Almuena and Cecilia Weaver, took additional courses to earn a master’s of pastoral theology. They will participate in Chaminade’s May 12 commencement exercises.
Kane, a Kauai resident, will be ordained Jan. 17 at Immaculate Conception Church in Lihue. Big Island candidate Aglia will be ordained Jan 24 at St. Joseph Church in Hilo. The rest, all from Oahu, will be ordained on Jan. 31 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu.
This class began formation for the diaconate with an aspirancy year starting on Jan. 8, 2010. They officially became candidates for permanent diaconate through a Rite of Candidacy on Jan. 16, 2011.
The candidates received the ministry of reader, or lector, last Dec. 15.
The men and their wives have been meeting one weekend a month since 2010 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center for classes and formation. The remainder of the year will be spent learning the more practical aspects of the ministry, plus marriage and family issues.
The diaconate is one of the church’s three holy orders, the others being priest and bishop. Seminarians are also ordained deacons as a step to priestly ordination. Their diaconate is often described as “transitional” to distinguish it from the “permanent” diaconate, which is open to married men and does not lead to priesthood.
Deacons may read the Gospel, preach and assist the celebrant priest at liturgical events. They also witness church weddings and preside at baptisms and funerals among other duties.
Hawaii’s first class of permanent deacons was ordained in 1981.
