CHARLOTTE — A prayer vigil and Holy Hour were held June 13 at St. Patrick Cathedral for the seven men who are preparing to become priests to serve the People of God in western North Carolina.
Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, led the prayer service for the priests-to-be, who will be ordained on Saturday at St. Mark Church. Everyone is invited to the 10 a.m. ordination Mass.
All seven ordinands and their families attended the Holy Hour and were seated near the front of the cathedral – close to where their new priestly vestments were draped over kneelers near the base of the steps of the sanctuary in anticipation of Monsignor Winslow blessing them, along with the chalices that they will use at their first Mass.
The handmade kneelers are a gift from the Mary’s Sons Apostolate, which has brought them to churches all over the diocese over the past year as a lead-up to the ordination Mass. The “Kneeler Pilgrimage” gives people across the diocese an opportunity to pray for the new priests in a personal way and share congratulatory messages for each future priest in little prayer books. The kneelers and prayer books will be given to each priest following ordination.
— Catholic News Herald
Meet the ordinands: Seven men to be ordained priests for the Diocese of Charlotte
During my first five years as a deacon, I have received many blessings, and I wish to share a few now.
Proclaiming the Gospel at Mass has been a highlight of my vocation. What a beautiful privilege it is at each Mass to proclaim the words of Jesus. Serving at the altar has brought me closer to our Lord. At each Mass I am transported to the Last Supper as I kneel from the epiclesis through the consecration. Leading Benediction regularly has drawn me closer to our Lord as I can now adore Him in a more intimate way than I had before.
Being a deacon has also allowed me to participate in the sacraments of marriage and baptism regularly. Working with engaged couples preparing for marriage or married couples preparing to have their child baptized has allowed me to share my vocations as a husband, father and deacon with those involved. When I perform baptisms or witness marriages, I feel a special joy to be able to participate in the delivery of these beautiful sacraments.
As a deacon, I have also enjoyed my role in speaking at Bible studies and providing spiritual direction to the Cursillo group in our parish and diocese.
I have also been blessed with the privilege of serving Jesus in the disguise of the poor, the sick, and the prisoner. I have enjoyed volunteering monthly at the homeless shelter and leading devotionals. I have been blessed to deliver Meals on Wheels every Thursday for more than a decade. And last year, I became a participant and leader in our Jail and Prison ministries, visiting and ministering to men on a regular basis. Each of these ministries have helped me to see our Lord in the many diverse faces of those around me.
Finally, as a deacon, I have grown to love praying the liturgy of the hours (morning and evening prayers) daily with my wife Carey. Through the love and support of
Bishop Peter Jugis, former pastor Father Brian Cook and current pastor Christopher Gober, my family, my wife Carey, and Our Lord, I have been able to live my vocation as a deacon, and I am truly thankful to all of them for this.
Deacon Ralph D’Agostino Jr. serves at St. Leo the Great Parish in Winston-Salem.