Pilgrimages to Holy Doors Bring Mercy New Priests Tell Their Stories 2 Ordained As Transitional Deacons
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WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | May 13-26, 2016 | Volume 77, Number 13 ORLANDO DIOCESE PALM BEACH DIOCESE VENICE DIOCESE A happy Father Robert L. Pope Jr., left, and Father James Scott Adams stand together after their ordination to the priesthood May 7. (LINDA REEVES | FC) About 350 faithful from St. Agnes and St. Elizabeth Seton parishes in Naples, who made a pilgrimage April Bishop John Noonan lays hands on Deacon Edwin 16 to the Holy Doors of Mercy at Epiphany Cathedral Cardona during the rite of ordination, the final step on New priests tell in Venice, go through the doors one at a time. (BOB the journey to priesthood. (KATHERINE LAGUNA | FC) REDDY | FC) 2 ordained as their stories Pilgrimages The Diocese of Palm Beach has two new ac- countants — both of them converts from Prot- transitional estantism — and both now wear priestly collars. to Holy Doors Father Robert Lee Pope Jr. and Father James Scott deacons Adams were ordained by Bishop Gerald M. Bar- bring mercy barito during ceremonies May 7 at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens. Bishop John Noonan ordained 14 men from St. Father Pope began his vocation at the request of During this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mer- Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary as transition- his wife, who died in 2012 after suffering six years cy a number of parish and school groups from al deacons April 16, including two for the Orlando with melanoma. Father Adams worked for gov- across the Diocese, as well as individuals, have Diocese. Deacons Edwin Cardona from St. Cath- ernments and hotels, but felt a “hidden lostness” been making the effort to encounter and experi- erine of Siena Parish in Kissimmee and Juan Os- that was filled with Christ and led to his desire to ence the love and mercy of God by participating orno from St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Orlando, will become a member of the sacred priesthood. in pilgrimages to designated Holy Doors of Mercy. serve as priests following their ordination to the They shared their stories with correspondent They include Epiphany Cathedral in Venice and priesthood in May 2017. Jim Davis for the Florida Catholic. Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Boca Grande. Click on the ORLANDO DIOCESE above for Click on the PALM BEACH DIOCESE for more Click on the VENICE DIOCESE above for more more on this story. on this story. on this story. A final goodbye to Father Rene Robert Nuns keep hope alive among E-EDITION EXCLUSIVE displaced in Iraq Long journey out of Fort McMurray WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | May 13-26, 2016 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE TRANSI TIONAL DEACONS Above, Bishop John Noonan hands the Book of the Gospels to transitional Deacon Juan Osorno, right, during ordination April 16, at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton. (COURTESY) Right, Bishop John Noonan lays hands on Deacon Edwin Cardona during the rite of ordination, the final step on the journey to priesthood. (KATHERINE LAGUNA | FC) Two take one more step to priesthood DEBRA TOMASELLI con Osorno said. “I put it aside for years, until priest, Deacon Cardona visited the seminary “Serve the people of God with love and joy as Florida Catholic correspondent finally I came to the point where I couldn’t say and returned, announcing that he felt God you would the Lord himself.” no anymore.” was calling him to the priesthood. “The theme of servant resonated with me,” ORLANDO | Bishop John Noonan or- Once he made the commitment, peace “My parents said they’d support me and Deacon Cardona said. He spoke of his class- dained 14 men from St. Vincent de Paul Re- reigned. “Nobody was surprised,” he said. back me up,” he said, “and they always have.” mates, who are quick to clean up the cafeteria gional Seminary as transitional deacons April “My family and friends kind of expected They were among the congregation filling or handle campus projects. “No one is look- 16 at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton. Two it.” St. Joan of Arc on the day of the transitional ing for credit, but we have a desire to serve. of them, Deacons Edwin Cardona from St. Deacon Cardona, 25, has a different story. diaconate ordination. That day, Deacon Car- My prayer is to be faithful to that.” Catherine of Siena Parish in Kissimmee and Although raised Catholic, he was not active dona arose with a feeling of anticipation. He “Being a transitional deacon is all about Juan Osorno from St. Isaac Jogues Parish in in parish life. “I attended public schools,” visited the chapel, entered the church and felt service,” added Father Jorge Torres, vocations Orlando, will serve as priests in the Diocese he said. “I was never an altar server.” When a flurry of emotion. director for the Diocese of Orlando. “They can of Orlando following their ordination to the his family moved from New York to Central “I was entering into something I couldn’t perform Baptisms, weddings and funeral ser- priesthood in May 2017. Florida, he missed receiving the Sacrament do for myself,” he said. “God was going to vices outside of Mass. They can preach and In his homily, Bishop Noonan thanked the of Confirmation with his class. make me a deacon.” bless articles.” parents for the gift of their sons’ vocation, not- He did not consider the priesthood until “I was full of excitement,” Deacon Osorno “With the ordination, we become very spe- ing that families are the first teachers of faith. high school, after the death of his beloved said. “Seeing all those people there, it was cial,” Deacon Osorno said. “Not in the sense Both Deacons Osorno and Cardona concur. younger brother drove the family closer to very powerful. The Mass was very powerful.” as the world sees it, but in the sense of being Deacon Osorno, 42, was born and raised the faith. That’s when his parents enrolled Deacon Cardona agreed. “We knelt, stood, set apart for God. It’s all for the glory of him.” in Colombia by devout Catholic parents. As Deacon Cardona in faith formation classes to lay prostrate … the prayers, the Litany of the Deacons Cardona and Osorno will re- a child he aspired to become a priest, but as prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Saints; it was incredible,” he said. “I could feel sume studies at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary a young adult he moved to the United States, His teacher urged the students to consider not the support of family and friends, priests and in Boynton Beach and serve as deacons on worked in business and became an artist. what they want to pursue in life, but, rather, even the saints in heaven.” weekends. Currently, Deacon Cardona is as- However, the childhood aspiration never left what God wants them to do with their lives. Bishop Noonan’s homily hit home for both signed to Ascension Parish in Boca Raton, him. Deacon Cardona’s faith began to soar. men. “As a deacon, you are called to serve, and Deacon Osorno will serve at Sacred Heart “I always felt the calling to be a priest,” Dea- Finally, at the suggestion of his parish and not to be served,” Bishop Noonan said. Parish in Lake Worth. n May 13-26, 2016 Florida Catholic YOUR ORLANDO COMMUNITY A2 Men called to ‘Rise Up,’ be evangelists, leaders CHRISTINE COMMERCE doesn’t make us happy. What we “Don’t impose, but propose your Florida Catholic correspondent should strive for is Jesus Christ.” faith to people,” he said. That message reached men Coach Danny Abramowicz, who ORLANDO | Father Jeremiah from more than 50 parishes who played in the NFL for eight seasons Payne grew up on a farm in West- attended the first diocesan Catho- with the Saints and ’49ers, is the ern New York, where he recalled lic men’s conference at Holy Fam- president and founder of Crossing waking at 4 a.m. to pick grapes with ily Parish April 23 to learn how to the Goal, a ministry that evangeliz- his grandfather. rise up, become leaders and take es Catholic men, and also serves on The elder man would then go a more active role in their families the EWTN board of directors. Dur- to work at the steel mills before re- and community. ing his afternoon presentation he turning in the evening to finish his Father Payne, parochial vicar at pointed out that many men will do farming duties and spend time with Holy Name of Jesus Parish in In- physical and mental workouts, but his wife and the kids. Father Payne dialantic, gave the homily during they need to remember to conduct recalled the lesson his grandfather Mass and said discipleship is what spiritual workouts as well. taught him. we are called to do. “Think about how many times “If you have a goal and want “You need to get off the side- Jesus went off and prayed,” he said. to fulfill it, you’ve got to have the lines and rise up as leaders of Jesus “Without a prayer life you won’t hustle,” said Father Payne, one of Christ. A virtuous nation, a virtu- gain much ground.” Former NFL player and coach Danny Abramowicz, left, challenges the three keynote speakers at a men’s ous society begins with men,” he Abramowicz encouraged men men at the “Rise Up” conference to be spiritually strong by having conference. said. “One of the greatest tools of to turn to the Virgin Mary when a consistent prayer life. The first-ever diocesan men’s conference He told more than 700 partici- Satan is a man with no convic- struggling with temptation, partici- was held at Holy Family Parish in Orlando April 23 and drew over pants gathered that men have lost tion.