I wanted to share the wonderful news that two of our visiting seminarians here at Nativity of Our Lord, Zane Pekron and Joe Connelly (featured last week on our bulletin cover), have now both been ordained to the transitional diaconate.
In this last formal step before ordination to the priesthood, the transitional deacon is charged to make himself a servant to all, carrying out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy through the Ministry of the Word, Ministry to the Altar, and Ministry of Charity.
Zane has been serving his “Teaching Parish” apostolate here at Nativity during his four-year formation at St. Paul Seminary. Zane is studying for the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota and was ordained to the diaconate on May 24. You will continue to see Zane on the altar and around the Nativity campus as he also completes his final year of the teaching parish apostolate.
Joe lived and served at Nativity last summer and was ordained for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at the Basilica of St. Mary on May 12.
On behalf of Nativity parish, I thank Zane and Joe for their service to Nativity parish and congratulate them on their ordinations. Both Zane and Joe will pursue their final year of study, “Theology IV”, at the Saint Paul Seminary beginning this fall.
May Christ bless you and your family this week and always.
—Fr. Patrick Hipwell, Pastor
A previous version was published in the May 27 parish bulletin.