Bishop Woost to ordain seven transitional deacons on April 13

Seven students at Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology will be ordained to the transitional diaconate by Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost during a 10 a.m. liturgy April 13 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

Those to be ordained to the diaconate for the Diocese of Cleveland are listed below along with the names of their parents and their home parishes. They are:

• Ryan Michael Arto, son of Gary and Jeanine Arto of Akron, St. Francis de Sales Parish, Akron
• Christopher Lawrence Cotone, son of Norman and Donnalee Cotone of Parma Heights, St. John Bosco Parish, Parma Heights
• James Jonathon Hawkins, son of James and Carolyn Hawkins of Wadsworth, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Wadsworth
• Jeffrey Le Vance Lindholm, son of Bradley and Shelley Lindholm of Westlake, St. Raphael Parish, Bay Village
• James Alexander Parisi, son of Dr. Edward and Christine Parisi of Copley, St. Hilary Parish, Fairlawn
• Brian Matthew Peters, son of William and Pam Peters of Columbus, Ohio, St. Raphael Parish, Bay Village
• Kyle Jacob Rosser, son of Linda and John Rosser of Lorain, St. Peter Parish, Lorain

An eighth seminarian, Travis David Seagraves, son of Daniel and Kathy Seagraves of Warren, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Warren, will be ordained on May 25 in St. Columba Cathedral, Youngstown, by Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar for the Diocese of Youngstown.

According to the Rite of Ordination of Deacons, “strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, the deacons will help the bishop and his priests in the ministry of the Word, of the altar, and of charity, showing themselves to be servants to all.” It pertains to the ordained deacon to administer baptism; to assist at the altar at Mass and to distribute the Eucharist; to bring the Eucharist as viaticum to the dying; to read the sacred Scriptures to the faithful and, on occasion, to preach; to preside at the Church’s public prayer; to administer sacramentals; to assist at and bless marriages; and to officiate at funeral and burial rites.

The newly ordained will minister as deacons while continuing their studies and formation for priestly ministry. Typically, they will serve as deacons for a year as they prepare for potential ordination to the priesthood in spring 2025.

The diaconate ordination Mass will be livestreamed on the diocesan website. It will be archived and available for viewing later.