Diaconate Ordination
by Jeremy Meuser

Newly ordained transitional deacon Anthony Camilleri, front, is joined by Detroit Auxiliary Bishops Francis Reiss, left, and Daniel Flores.

"Thanks be to God" resounded from the assembly gathered in the main chapel as Auxiliary Bishop Francis R. Reiss announced that the Church has called fourth-year theologian Anthony Camilleri to serve as transitional deacon for the Archdiocese of Detroit. The transitional diaconate is the final step on a seminarian's journey to priestly ordination.

During the ordination rite held on December 16, Anthony made the commitments of celibacy, prayer and obedience to the Church. He later stood before the crowd dressed in a white-and-gold stole and dalmatic—the vestments of a deacon—as they applauded the now Rev. Mr. Camilleri.

"I feel different; I need to get used to this!" said Anthony about the indelible mark this sacrament conferred upon him. His time at the seminary has been inspirational to many of his brother seminarians. "Anthony is a great example of what it means to live joyfully for the Lord," says Detroit seminarian Joe Wienclaw. Indeed, all seminarians will miss his presence in the house, but rejoice as he approaches the goal toward which he has directed his life for almost seven years.

Rev. Mr. Camilleri is completing his final semester of formation at Sacred Heart while serving the cluster parishes of St. Steven, St. Joseph and Guadalupe Mission as deacon. His presbyteral ordination will be celebrated on Saturday, May 26, at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.

Other seminarians studying at Sacred Heart who were ordained as transitional deacons in 2006 are Rev. Mr. Robbie Deka (Gaylord), Rev. Mr. John Linden (Lansing) and Rev. Mr. Janusz Romanek (Marquette). They, like Anthony, will be ordained as priests later in 2007.