Actually, it’s Worcester, to be precise.

Just as in the days of the early Church, the diocese recently welcomed seven men into the diaconate.

From the Catholic Free Press:

An inspiration to return to the Catholic Church.

An opportunity to see Dad at his happiest – or have him home more often.

These were among blessings that Saturday’s ordination of permanent deacons bestowed on their family members, who came from as far away as Ghana and Los Angeles for the celebration.

At Mass at St. Paul Cathedral Bishop McManus ordained the seven husbands and fathers: John N. Barton, Michael T. Chase, William M. Griffin, Colin M. J. Novick, Paul F. Pizzarella, Court J. Shields and Anthony J. Xatse. The bishop offered special thanks to their wives and families.

“Without the love and support you have given these men, they would never have made it to the altar,” he said.

Permanent deacons are clergy who are ordained to the ministry of service, not the ministerial priesthood, the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults says. They may baptize, proclaim the Gospel, preach, preside at funerals, assist at and bless marriages and assist the bishop or priest in the celebration of the Eucharist.

“It was amazing; it was breathtaking; it was so emotional,” William M. Griffin Jr., 25, said of his father’s ordination. He mentioned the beautiful procession and people coming together and the deacons’ hard work, which he likened to his law school studies.

He also praised the support of about 200 people who attended his father’s Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Westminster Sunday, and beautiful notes even from those who don’t know him well.

“I really felt a sense of community over the weekend which I haven’t felt in a long time,” he said.

“It’s kind of a relief,” Tracy Novick said after the ordination of her husband, who at age 35 is the youngest a man can be ordained a permanent deacon. “It’s been a long time coming.”

She said that when their daughters, ages 3 to 7, asked what this would mean, she replied, “We’re going to have Dad on Monday and Wednesday nights.” (For the four-and-one-half years of training deacon candidates have classes twice a week during the academic year, explained Deacon Anthony R. Surozenski, director of the diocesan Office of the Diaconate.)

“I thought it was very special,” Deacon Novick’s cousin Erin Breen said of his ordination. “It was a wonderful, joyous occasion to have the family all together.” She said she came in from Los Angeles, and her brother came in from Denver.

“They are celebrating back home today and I am here representing them,” said Eric Agbezuge, who came from Ghana for the ordination of his uncle, Deacon Xatse, the Worcester Diocese’s first African permanent deacon.

Eleonora Tackey said she and two other family friends of Deacon Xatse, whom she knew in Ghana, came in from Virginia “because he’s special.”

“It’s not easy to become a deacon,” she said. “We came to give our support. Especially in a foreign land you need all the support you can get. Seeing you, he’s encouraged that the journey he’s taking is the right one.”

“The massive support from the congregation really gladdened my heart,” said Deacon Xatse’s brother Peter Xatse. He said more than 100 members of the Ghanaian Catholic community in Worcester came.

“I liked the order; it looked so beautiful; I feel like coming back to the Catholic Church,” said Ken Fiakofi, Deacon Xatse’s nephew, a member of a local Pentecostal Church.

“You feel like you’re in the presence of God – what we are going to experience in the future, a rehearsal for what is to come after life.”

Read more at the link. And welcome, brothers!