Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, in the presence of Bishop Edward Malesic, will ordain three men as transitional deacons for service to the Diocese of Cleveland during a liturgy at 10 a.m. April 18 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The Mass will be livestreamed.
Those called to ordination, their parents and home parishes are:
- Noah Anthony Furin, son of David and Lynne Furin, St. Ladislas Parish, Westlake
- Sean Christopher Homcy, son of Alan Homcy and Elizabeth Homcy, St. James Parish, Lakewood
- Jeremy Michael Shafer, son of Jeffrey Shafer and Mary Shafer, St. Mary Parish, Berea.
A fourth seminarian, Arthur John Bodenshatz, son of Gary and Nicole Bodenschatz, St. Paul Parish, North Canton, will be ordained later to the transitional diaconate for the Diocese of Youngstown. His ordination will take place at 10:30 a.m. June 6 at his home parish of St. Paul.
All are students at Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in Wickliffe and are discerning a priestly vocation.
As transitional deacons, they will spend the next year ministering at an assigned parish in the diocese. They will help the bishop and priests in the ministry of the Word, the altar, and charity. They can administer baptism, assist at the altar during Mass, distribute holy Communion, bring the Eucharist as viaticum to the dying, read sacred Scriptures to the faithful, preach on occasion, preside at the Church’s public prayer, administer sacramentals, assist at and bless marriages and officiate at funeral and burial rites.
Pictured from left in the group photo above are Bodenschatz, Furin, Homcy and Shafer.