North Adams Man Among Newly Ordained Deacons
 Matthew Alcombright of North Adams, left, was ordained Friday as a deacon. His father, Mayor Richard Alcombright, right, attended the ceremony. |
Matthew Alcombright of North Adams, Daniel Cymer, Yerick Mendez, Peter Naranjo II and James Nolte were ordained deacons by Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell as approximately 500 attendees looked on.
The transitional diaconate is a significant step on the journey of men who are preparing for the priesthood and typically takes place during the last year of seminary formation. Following the Rite of Diaconate Ordination, four of the men continue in their seminary education during the week and serve as deacons at their assigned parish each weekend until ordination to the priesthood in the spring.
Cymer has completed his academics and is in full-time parish ministry at St. Mary's Parish of Cheshire.
The new deacons are scheduled to be ordained as priests June 2, 2012, also in St. Michael's Cathedral. Family, friends, priests, deacons and religious sisters participated in the nearly two-hour liturgy.
"It's surreal," Alcombright told iobserve immediately following the liturgy. "You spent (so many) years up 'till now preparing and sometimes think it's never going to come. Other times, it's coming way too fast."
Alcombright also spoke of his feelings during the rite of ordination itself. "You can think about it, you can pray about it ... but actually doing it, is just an absolutely humbling and beautiful experience."
The new deacon will serve at the Newman Catholic Center at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Son of North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright, he grew up in North Adams and was a parishioner of the former Notre Dame Parish there.
"I'm very happy," Deacon Mendez. "Surprisingly, I have a lot of peace, I didn't really get nervous. I just have a quiet joy right now."
Mendez will look to spread that joy to the people of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Belchertown where he is now assigned as deacon. He grew up in St. Mary Parish in Westfield. He said he looks forward to his role as deacon, serving as a "humble servant, while leading people closer to God."
 Daniel Cymer of Poland, who is serving at St. Mary's in Cheshire, is ordained by Bishop McDonnell. |
"Service never goes away. You are called to imitate Christ as a man of service, a shepherd to his people," the bishop said. "Keep that in mind constantly and you will be outstanding deacons and, God willing, one day, priests."
As ordained clergy, deacons can perform many of the sacramental responsibilities of the priest. They can preside over baptisms, can conduct wedding and funeral services and can preach homilies. They cannot however, hear confessions or celebrate Mass.
"Today is a great day for the church of Springfield," said Diocesan Director of Vocations Father Gary M. Dailey. "We ordained five transitional deacons for service in the church and we send them forth now…to complete their seminary formation, and then into parishes on weekends in preparation for their ordination to priesthood, God willing, in June."
Dailey said the men all have "a variety of talents, and they're going to bring to the diocese tremendous gifts."
Naranjo has been assigned to St. Elizabeth Parish in Ludlow and Nolte will serve as deacon at Immaculate Conception Parish in Holyoke.
Story re-published with permission of Catholic Communications Ministry, iobserve.org
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