Bishop Earl Fernandes will ordain three diocesan seminarians to the transitional diaconate at a Mass on Saturday, March 9 at 10 a.m. at Lancaster Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, 132 S. High St.
The ordination will be the first to take place at St. Mary of the Assumption since the church received the title of basilica in 2022. The diocese is holding the ordination at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption in part to draw more of the faithful to the recently designated basilica.
The ordination Mass is open to anyone who would like to attend. A light reception will follow in the Spirit Center at the basilica.
The three deacon candidates are Kevin Girardi of Columbus Our Lady of Victory Church, Joseph Rolwing of New Albany Church of the Resurrection and Samuel Severance of Columbus Holy Family Church.
The three candidates are currently studying at the Pontifical College Josephinum. After they are ordained as deacons, they will spend a final year in studies before their anticipated ordination to the priesthood in 2025.
In May, Bishop Fernandes will ordain Deacons Tyler Carter, Daniel Colby, Jason Fox, Michael Haemmerle and David Johnstone to the priesthood.
Deacons Carter, Colby, Haemmerle and Johnstone are completing their studies at the Josephinum, and Deacon Fox is completing his preparations at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts.
For more information on vocations, visit www.ColumbusCatholic.org/Vocations.