Florida Catholic | Seminarian Is Now A Deacon

Seminarian is now a deacon

Deacon Thomas Lafreniere is thrilled to be ordained in the afterglow of pope’s U.S. visit.

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PALM BEACH BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 05.09.08

New Deacon Thomas Lafreniere stands with Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito after ordination ceremonies at St. Ann Church.

New Deacon Thomas Lafreniere stands with Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito after his ordination at St. Ann Parish. Reflecting on the pope’s recent visit, Deacon Lafreniere said, “Pope Benedict will give strength to those who feel like they might be called.”
JASON COLLINS | FC

WEST PALM BEACH | Thomas Lafreniere believes that the visit of Pope Benedict XVI is a boost of encouragement for seminarians such as himself and just what the declining priesthood needed.

“As far as vocations, I do think the pope’s presence is going to be beneficial,” he told the Florida Catholic days before Pope Benedict visited New York and Washington, D.C., for the first time in his papacy. Pope Benedict also visited St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., where seminarians are few in number.

“It will get people to consider vocations,” said Lafreniere, who took a significant step in his journey toward the priesthood April 26.

He is now Deacon Lafreniere, ordained a transitional deacon during ceremonies at St. Ann Parish in West Palm Beach, where he served a year as part of seminarian responsibilities. Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, who was in New York and Washington, D.C., during Pope Benedict’s visit to America, was main celebrant.

“Pope Benedict will give strength to those who feel like they might be called,” said Deacon Lafreniere, who admitted he heard God’s call to the priesthood as a teen, but did not respond for nearly 20 years. When he hit his mid-30s, God gave him the strength to take the first step toward the priesthood, he said. He entered St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach in the fall of 2003.

He said it was the presence of priests in his home – priest friends of his father – that made him sway towards the religious life.

“I believe that the presence of these men and the openness with which my parents accepted them, made it easy for me to accept a religious vocation as a viable option,” he said.

Deacon Lafreniere said he is disappointed that Pope Benedict did not extend his stay in America.

“It would have been nice for him to be at my ordination,” he said with a laugh.

Deacon Lafreniere’s six seminary classmates were ordained to the transitional diaconate April 19 at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. The classmates are Luis Roger Largaespada, Archdiocese of Miami; Carl Joseph Melchior Jr., Diocese of Saint Petersburg; Vilaire Philius, Diocese of Orlando; and William Philip Ganci, Robert Jules Johnson and Paul Francis Lambert, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.

“It is nice because it is an opportunity for my class to be together twice for two ordinations,” he said before ordination ceremonies.

The other seminarians from around the state were ordained by Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando. Then-seminarian Lafreniere served at the altar.

“As a class, we come together,” said Deacon Lafreniere, who noted his classmates attended his ordination at St. Ann as well.

Reflecting on why he was slow to take action to God’s call, Deacon Lafreniere, 41, said, “I thought I was too old. Then, I realized there are men older than myself in the seminary. A lot of us older guys bring skills that some people may not have.”

Seminary professors said they believe Deacon Lafreniere will be a good priest. “Tom has amazed me with the excellent grasp of what I have taught him, at times really leaving me speechless after reading one of his final exams,” professor Emilio Chavez said.

Deacon Lafreniere, a former company trainer for a Boca corporation, is a native of Connecticut.

“I have one more year of studies,” he said, also mentioning he will be working at St. Joseph Parish in Stuart as part of his final year of seminarian training. “I like working with other people. I look forward to being with the people in the parish.”

Deacon Lafreniere hopes to be ordained to the priesthood next year.

“He will be a great priest,” said Father Yves François, director of the diocesan Vocations Office. “He is a man of love, compassion and respect. You can always count on him.

“He will serve in a very special way. There is something special about him. He doesn’t make noise. He is a good listener.”

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