Florida Catholic | Four Admitted To Diaconate Candidacy

Four admitted to diaconate candidacy

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 06.06.08

VENICE | Four family men stood before Bishop Frank J. Dewane at Epiphany Cathedral and professed their faith as they are called to serve.

The men took part in the admission to candidacy May 24 before their family and friends, the first of four steps that will lead to their ordination to the sacred order of deacons in 2011.

The rite of admission to candidacy for ordination is celebrated when the candidates have reached a maturity of purpose and are shown to have the necessary qualifications. The intention of receiving orders is expressed publicly by the candidates and the bishop accepts their intentions publicly.

The candidates are Jose E. Diaz Jr. of St. Jude Parish in Sarasota, John Robert Gaitens of St. Martha Parish in Sarasota, James P. Hanks of Epiphany Cathedral Parish in Venice and Leonardo R. Pastore of St. Jude Parish in Sarasota.

Bishop Dewane thanked the four men for the decision they have made to commit to their faith and he also thanked their families for their support in this decision.

“We want to live the call of the Lord in our life, a call of giving and sacrifice,” the bishop said. “You heard that call of the Lord. But you cannot answer that call without sacrifice, without deliberation and without growth in your life.”

The next steps for the men are institution to reader in 2009, acolyte in 2010 and, if successful and approved, they will follow with their ordination as deacons in 2011.

The four students have completed two years of the five-year diaconate training program in the Diocese of Venice. Four additional students will be entering their last year of training in September and a May 2009 ordination to the diaconate is anticipated.

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Four admitted to diaconate candidacy

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