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Eight Jesuits Ordained Deacons by Cardinal O'Malley

Newly ordained Jesuit deacons with the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston
Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston, presides at the ordination of the deacons
Bret Stockdale, SJ is ordained a Catholic deacon by Cardinal Sean O Malley, Archbishop of Boston

Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Seán O'Malley, OFM.Cap., ordained nine men to the order of the diaconate on October 6th at the Jesuit parish, St. Ignatius of Loyola in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Among the nine ordinands, eight were Jesuits including one Jesuit from the New England Province: Bret Stockdale.  Also ordained was one member of the Redemptorist order.

The newly ordained deacons are:

  • Adrian A. Danker, SJ
  • Alistair Joseph Elias, C.Ss.R.
  • Peter M. Folan, SJ
  • Michael C. Magree, SJ
  • Jayme C. Stayer, SJ
  • Robert W. Stephan, SJ
  • Bret J. Stockdale, SJ
  • Stephen L. Surovick, SJ
  • Jeremy K. Zipple, SJ

Cardinal O'Malley remarked that it was "a very auspicious date to celebrate the ordination of these young Jesuits from various provinces" because it fell on both the feast of St. Bruno and also the date that the first Jesuit, Pedro Martinez, arrived in United States.

The nine new deacons were ordained as part of their formation to become priests in their religious order. Roman Catholic deacons are ordained to assist the Bishop and his Presbyterate as ministers of the word, of the altar, and of charity.  They are authorized to proclaim the Word of God, to preach, and to preside at the sacraments of Baptism and Marriage and at the Rite of Christian Burial.

To learn more about Jesuit vocations and formation, visit www.JesuitVocation.org.

For additional photos from the ordination, view our photo album on the New England Province of Jesuits page on Facebook.

Photo captions
Top: The newly ordained deacons. Front Row (L to R): Fr. Mark Massa, SJ, Dean of Boston College School of Theology and Ministry; Jeremy Zipple, SJ; Adrian Danker, SJ; Cardinal O'Malley, OFM.Cap.; Jayme Stayer, SJ; Fr. Jim Gartland, SJ, Rector of the Faber Community at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.  Back Row (L to R): Bret Stockdale, SJ; Stephen Surovick, SJ; Peter Folan, SJ; Michael Magree, SJ; Robert Stephan, SJ.

Middle: Cardinal O'Malley celebrated the Mass of ordination and gave the homily.

Bottom: New England Province Jesuit Bret Stockdale (right) is ordained a deacon by Cardinal O'Malley.

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