Three are ordained to the transitional diaconate

Candidates for ordination to the transitional diaconate, Brother John Paul O’Sullivan, V.S., Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd, and Brother Thomas Fransen, V.S., lie prostrate before the altar as Bishop Peter Christensen and the congregation pray for the intercessions of the saints. (ICR photo/Joseph Egbert)

By Emily Woodham

Staff Writer

Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd and Verbum Spei Brothers Thomas Fransen and John Paul O’Sullivan were ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Peter F. Christensen on May 27 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise.

The transitional diaconate is the final step for seminarians before ordination to the priesthood.

Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd is ordained a deacon to the transitional diaconate. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

“Deacons serve as ministers of the Church, embodying Christ’s call to serve others,” Bishop Peter said in his homily at Mass for the ordination. “They are integral to the liturgy: serving at the altar, proclaiming the Gospel and preaching on the Word of God. Deacons are also necessary for community outreach—acting as a bridge between the Church and the world.”

The promises made by deacons in their ordination are countercultural in today’s society, the bishop said. In particular, the last four promises made by deacon candidates to remain celibate, practice regular prayer, conform to the example of Christ and respect and obey the bishop and his successors, “must sound odd to so many people in our society today.”

From left, Verbum Spei Brothers Deacon Thomas Fransen and Deacon John Paul O'Sullivan are with Bishop Peter, Diocese of Boise Deacon Ian Willnerd, and Archdiocese of Seattle Deacon Simon Stehr. (ICR photo/Vero Gutiérrez)

“Celibacy makes no sense, if you don’t have a sense of the Kingdom of Heaven, or of fasting and prayer in helping oneself and others get there, or a sense of a sacrifice of love for a greater love,” he said.

The promise of prayer at key hours of each day is also countercultural in its humility.

“Prayer is an admission and submission to a power greater than oneself,” Bishop Peter said. “For Christians, we worship the God who created us and who faithfully guides us through life.”

The Church asks all Christians to conform to the example of Christ, but deacons are called “to do so with great intentionality,” he explained, while encouraging the candidates with a passage from the Gospel reading (John 15:9-17), in which Jesus said that the disciples did not choose Him, but that He chose them and “appointed them to go and bear fruit that will last.”

Brother John Paul O'Sullivan, VS

The grace to conform to Christ and bear fruit comes although “we are earthen vessels,” he said, referring to the first reading of the ordination Mass, 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-7.

The final promise that deacons make is obedience to the bishop and his successors. This is to live with trust, Bishop Peter explained, “that there is an order to our Church that brings safety and stability to all humanity. This obedience sounds so strange for some people in this world who would prefer to say, ‘I’d rather do it myself’ and not to bend the knee to anyone greater.”

Although the world may be baffled by the decision to be ordained, the reason for ordination is in the Gospel reading from John 15, in which Jesus expounds on His love for the disciples and the love they are to have for one another. Bishop Peter said that Jesus speaks to the candidates, just as He did to the disciples, and invites them into a loving, intimate relationship.

Brother Thomas Fransen, VS

This relationship with God may seem countercultural. However, it is what God intended from the beginning with Adam and Eve. It is also the reason that Christ came into the world, Bishop Peter explained.

“The Lord came among us that all may have life. He renewed and restores our life, forgives our sins. He has brought restoration and salvation to the entire world, and desires to do so for all those willing to accept the gifts He offers in this life.”

Bishop Peter pointed out that it seems strange that Jesus would need to command somebody to love as He did in the Gospel. However, when looking at the life of Jesus, we can understand why He had to command it, he said.

“He suffered. He laid down His life for the love of humanity. He gave His very self. You, as deacons, will give yourself in one way or another to the world out of ove. It is your commissioning as deacons that the world may come to see in you the life our Lord intends for the entire world.”

Diocese of Boise Seminarian Ian Willnerd

“A great gift is now entrusted to each of you. Use your gifts well,” Bishop Peter concluded. “Use your gifts with the power of God as your source of strength and your inspiration. May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to completion.”

Deacon Brothers Fransen and O’Sullivan will serve at the Monastery of Our Lady of Ephesus in Boise and assist at parishes in the Diocese of Boise as needed.

Deacon Ian Willnerd is assigned to St. Mary’s Parish and St. Augustine’s Student Center and Parish in Moscow where Father Chase Hasenoehrl is pastor of both. Deacon Willnerd will divide his time between his parish assignments and his final year of classes at St. Paul’s Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He will be ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Boise next year.