THE VATICAN-Over a thousand family and friends were on hand at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter last Thursday, October 6, as thirty-five men were ordained to the transitional diaconate. Among them, the Rev. Mr. Ryan W. Connors was ordained for service in the Diocese of Providence.
Connors, 28, a seminarian of the Pontifical North American College, affirmed: “I am completely overwhelmed by the goodness of God. There was a real and palpable sense of the prayers of God's people for those of us being ordained.”
Connors continued. “I am overjoyed to be ordained to serve the people of Providence. I am particularly excited to preach God's Word...it is an amazing privilege to announce the saving truths of the Gospel. I am especially grateful to my family and to the joyful and holy priests I have known who God used to help me discover the grace of a priestly vocation."
After five years of priestly formation thus far, Ryan will complete his seminary studies this spring.
Together with thirty-four others from across the United States and Australia, Ryan was ordained by William Joseph Cardinal Levada, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
In his homily, Cardinal Levada explained that the ordained life is an expression of Christ exhortation to, “Love one another as I have loved you.”
During the ordination, the new deacons promised to live a life of prayer, celibacy and obedience to their diocesan bishop. The new deacons will have an additional year of theological studies and spiritual formation before being ordained to the priesthood.
As part of the ordination rite, the bishop placed the Book of the Gospels in the hands of each man being ordained and said, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”
Connors, from St. Brendan Parish, Riverside, after graduating from Boston College, began his studies for the priesthood for the Diocese of Providence at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, completing a one year Pre-Theology program with classes at Providence College in 2006. At that time he briefly left seminary to more deeply discern his call to the priesthood. After working in Washington D.C. in the United States Senate for two years he returned seminary and was assigned to the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University and completed a Bachelors of Sacred Theology last spring.
This fall he begins studies for a Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Angelicum University in Moral Theology.
Connors has served in summer parish assignments at Sts. John and Paul Parish, Coventry, St Joseph Parish, North Scituate, and in the summer chaplaincy program at Kent Hospital. He also served at Blessed Sacrament Church, Providence under Rev. Angelo Carusi.
Rev. Carusi commented: “I consider it a privilege and honor to be in Rome to celebrate with Ryan’s family and friends as he is ordained a Deacon. With one great voice we lift our hearts and minds to the Heavenly Father who has given us the gift of the Priesthood and the sacraments.”
Also in attendance was Msgr. Albert Kenney, Vicar General for the Diocese of Providence, who expressed his joy over Ryan’s ordination: “For years I have seen Ryan as a man of great devotion to Jesus Christ and His people. He is truly a man of the Church and I am very happy for him and the Diocese.”
Ryan was vested as a deacon by Rev. Romanus Cessario, O.P. professor at St. John’s Seminary. The following day a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Rev. Cessario in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Tomb of John Paul II in which Connors served as a deacon, proclaiming the Gospel and giving the homily.
Rev. Cessario commented, “Ordination to the Diaconate ushers Ryan Connors into the pulpit that the Church reserves for her sacred ministers. Before all else, deacons distribute divine truth.”
Connors’s father and mother, Joe and Lisa Connors, were on hand for the ordination. Lisa explained, “I thank God always for Ryan and I am so happy for him and for the Church.” Joe stated, “It is an honor and privilege to have such a son as Ryan.” Commenting on all the newly ordained deacons he said, “The future of the Church is in good hands with this holy and fine group of men.”
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