On Saturday, November 17, Archbishop Brunett ordained twenty-one men to the permanent diaconate for service in the Archdiocese of Seattle.  Here, the candidates gather around the altar as representatives of the deacon formation program testify to their worthiness.


Archbishop Brunett in his homily recalled some of the great deacons of the Church, including St. Lawrence, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ephrem.


The Archbishop questions each candidate on his willingness to undertake the tasks and obligations of the diaconate.  Then each promises respect and obedience to the Archbishop and his successors.


The assembly prays as the candidates prostrate themselves in a biblical gesture of humility.


We invoke the aid of all the saints.


The laying on of hands is the heart of the ordination rite.


The candidates kneel during the prayer of ordination.  "We beseech you, Lord:  look with favor on these servants of yours who will minister at your holy altar and whom we now humbly dedicate to the office of deacon."


The newly ordained deacons are vested in the stole and dalmatic by their wives and a priest or deacon mentor.




The Archbishop presents each new deacon with the Book of the Gospels, saying, "Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become.  Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach."


The Archbishop exchanges the sign of peace with each of the new deacons.


Veteran deacons exchange the sign of peace with the new deacons.


"May God who appointed you a steward of his mysteries make you an imitator of his Son, Jesus Christ, and a minister of unity and peace in the world."