On May 19th, Monsignor Robert J. Cunningham, Bishop of Syracuse, ordained 14 deacons at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Syracuse, New York. Four of them were Fathers Eric Gilhooly, LC, Nathan Wayne, LC, Patrick O’Loughlin, LC, and his dad, Terrence O’Loughlin, who was ordained a permanent deacon.

In his homily, Monsignor Robert reminded that deacons are recipients of God’s mercy sent to proclaim His word with their mouths and their works. He said: «You have not chosen it yourselves; it is God who has chosen you to remain in His love and bear fruit […]. But you cannot give what you do not have; therefore, above all, you must know God.» He also commented that deacons should be characterized by their submission and trust in the Church, and that the celibacy of deacons «is a sign of pastoral charity and a source of spiritual fruit in the world that demands total dedication to Christ with an undivided heart rooted in faith.»

Father Patrick commented before his ordination: «After 17 years of formation, I find myself with much confidence and gratitude at the door of the sacred orders. I approach with confidence because the mission is not a human work, but, as the angel told Saint Joseph, it is a work of the Holy Spirit. The ordination is a grace and a gift that God gives me, and that is why I trust in His presence and His power. I also approach with gratitude because I am very aware that I have only arrived here through the closeness of Mary and through the love, generosity, and prayers of my family, many Legionaries, members of Regnum Christi, and friends. Thank you! The key word is grace.»

«It is a great honor to be called and chosen to follow Christ in such a close way. As a deacon, one directly participates in the mission of the first apostles to carry the only message worth listening to: the message of Christ’s love,» commented Father Nathan Wayne, LC.

P. Eric Gilhooly, LC

Born in 1986 in Syracuse, New York. He was a member of ECYD in Syracuse and entered the Vocational Center of New Hampshire in 1999. He entered the Novitiate Center of Ireland on September 14, 2003, and made his first religious profession there in 2005. From 2005 to 2007, he studied humanities in Cheshire, United States. Subsequently, he began his bachelor’s in philosophy at the Pontifical Ateneo Regina Apostolorum. In 2009, he began his apostolic practices as an assistant in the territorial secretary of New York and then taught humanities for three years in Cheshire, where he made his perpetual profession in 2011. He returned to Rome in 2013 to study for a license in philosophy, and in 2015, he began his bachelor’s in theology.

P. Nathan Wayne, LC

Born in 1988 in Syracuse, New York, where he was a member of ECYD and Regnum Christi. He entered the Cheshire Novitiate Center on September 15, 2007. He made his first religious profession on August 29, 2009. From 2009 to 2010, he studied humanities in Cheshire, and in 2010, he began his bachelor’s in philosophy in Thornwood, also serving as an assistant. In 2012, he started his apostolic practices as a vocational promoter in Canada, and in 2015, he returned to Rome to begin his bachelor’s in theology.

P. Patrick O’Loughlin, LC

Born in 1989 in Syracuse, New York. He was a member of ECYD in Syracuse for 3 years and participated in the first clubs of Conquest. He entered the New Hampshire Vocational Center in 2001 and the Cheshire Novitiate Center on September 15, 2006, where he made his first religious profession in 2008. From 2008 to 2010, he studied classical humanities in Cheshire and Thornwood, also studying for his bachelor’s in philosophy. During his apostolic practices, he was a philosopher’s assistant in Thornwood, an assistant to the territorial secretary in Thornwood and San José, and discipline prefect at the Rolling Prairie Vocational Center. In 2015, he traveled to Rome to begin his bachelor’s in theology at the Pontifical Ateneo Regina Apostolorum. He made his perpetual profession on August 20, 2016.

The list of ordained deacons, along with some of their testimonies, can be read in English here.