Latest ordinations see future shepherds of Perth continue to roll out, both for needs of the Church and for those seeking meaning in their lives.
By Anthony Barich
National Reporter
SPENDING a year as deacons will give Rodrigo Tomala and Benny Calanza a solid foundation for the life of service that is the priesthood, Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton said at the pair’s ordination to the diaconate at St Lawrence Church, Balcatta on November 22.
Rodrigo, 39, from Ecuador and Benny, 38, from the Philippines, are members of the Neocatechumenal Way and undertook their training at the Archdiocesan Redemptoris Mater Seminary, run under the auspices of the Way in Morley.
During the Mass, the first time he has ordained deacons, Bishop Sproxton said the diaconate sometimes loses standing when compared with priestly and episcopal (bishop) ordinations, but is in fact foundational for the priestly ministry. “To experience the deacon’s ministry of service sets the foundation for these men to have learned that the priesthood is also a ministry of being there – especially for the poor and marginalised. It’s the reason why the diaconate was established,” he said, referring to the 12 Apostles appointing seven men to serve the poor so they could focus on preaching.
It was later that deacons were given the role of preaching, he said, which only had authority in them through their ministry of service.
“It’s a sacrament where they receive the strength they need for the ministry of love – sometimes against their pleasure. They are called by Christ to give of their time especially when it’s inconvenient to them, but that’s when they’ll give the most powerful sign of the diaconate and of the love of Christ.”
As Rodrigo and Benny will be “transitional deacons” on their way to the priesthood, Bishop Sproxton said that the time the pair will be given is precious, adding that they should accept the ordination to the diaconate as a gift.
Some saints, he said, did not make it to the priesthood and spent their lives serving Christ and His people as deacons, showing the love of Christ in the way they carry out their function both in the community and in the liturgy.
In the early Church, Bishop Sproxton said, deacons were the Church’s answer to the need to care for the poor, widows and those on the fringes of society.
The part of the Ordination Mass where Redemptoris Mater Rector Fr Michael Moore SM said he deemed them worthy of this ministry of service is an important part of the ceremony, Bishop Sproxton said, as it was a concept that caused many people angst in the past as people thought they were unworthy to even approach the altar.
“But they are worthy as they have responded to the call of Christ to serve and love,” Bishop Sproxton said.
Benny arrived in Perth in 2004, having completed three years at the Dominican University of St Thomas Aquinas in Manila; Rodrigo arrived in Perth in the Jubilee Year of 2000.
The Ordination Mass was concelebrated by about 40 priests, including St Charles Seminary Rector Mgr Kevin Long; and was attended by his seminarians and Dean of Studies, Christian Brother John Carrigg.
Missionaries of Charity Sisters and Little Sisters of the Poor also attended the ordination to support the two men, along with a packed congregation.
Professors from the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle campus who taught the two new deacons during their studies also attended the ordination at Balcatta.
The pair will be placed in parishes for the next year until they are ordained to the priesthood – possibly, Bishop Sproxton said, as the first to be ordained in the newly completed and restored St Mary’s Cathedral.