One of the blessings of being a deacon is the assistance at Mass - service at the Altar. Being in Rome, there are a number of liturgies around in the Christmas and Advent season were I have been able to serve as a Deacon at the Altar of a Mass offered. These have been small masses but what has made them special has been they have been celebrated by a Cardinal.
James Cardinal Stafford - Main Celebrant of Fiftieth Anniversary of Priesthood
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception - North American College
After welcoming Pope John Paul II to Denver for World Youth Day ‘93, Bishop Stafford was invited to come to Rome to be the Pontifical Council for the Laity. His service to the church has taken him now to the Apostolic Penitentiary. The Penitentiary has been dealing with the forgiveness of major sins since the 12th century. It was an honor to serve as a Deacon for him and the other priests celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. Think of all the Masses they have offered, babies they have baptized and sins they have forgiven! Wow!
John Cardinal Foley - Christmas Vigil
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception - North American College
A baby-Cardinal just elevated in November, Cardinal Foley is very dear to my heart and the heart of the College. My great-uncle worked with him during his time as the edition of the Catholic Standard Times in Philly. He gave me the ministry of Lector and ordained me to the Diaconate in October. He is now the Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. That is a long way of saying that he oversees the needs of the Shrines in the Holy Land
Albert Cardinal Vanhoye S.J., Albert - Final Vows of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers
Parish of San Stefano, Proto-martyr - Roma (Tor Fiscale)
Recently made a Cardinal, without being ordained a bishop, Cardinal Vanhoye has the dean of the Biblical Faculty of the Pontifical Biblical Institute from 1969-1990. He received the final vows of Brothers Ralf and Jacob MC just after Christmas. The celebration was at the local parish near the house of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers. As a Cardinal, he could accept their final vows but because he is not a bishop, he was unable to ordain them to the diaconate.
Angelo Cardinal Comastri - Ordination of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers.
St Peter Basilica, Altar of the Chair
Another recent Cardinal, Cardinal Comastri has been in charge of the day to day operations of St Peter’s Basilica for the past three years. He ordained Brothers Ralf and Jacob MC to the Diaconate. I was the Deacon of the Word and chanted the Gospel.
Theodore Cardinal McCarrick - Ordinary Time
Private Chapel - North American College
Most recently, Cardinal McCarrick visited us at the College. He sent me to study in Rome and it is always a blessing to have him here with us. He travels a great deal as he is still working hard in service for God and Church.