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January 31, 2000


Brother Damien is Now a Deacon!!

   Sunday January 30th was the momentous occasion of Bro. Damien Gjonaj’s ordination as a transitional deacon at St. Scholastica Parish in Detroit!  The ceremony took place during the 12:30 pm Mass which was presided by Bishop Moses Anderson (Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit).  His confreres from St. Benedict and St. Sylvester Monasteries, Frs. Daniel Homan, Michael Green and Bernard Shinn concelebrated the Mass with the Bishop and a Deacon from Precious Blood Parish (the church that Bishop Anderson pastors).  Most of our community from St. Benedict Monastery as well as some of our neighbors and friends braved the inclement weather to attend this happy occasion and pray for Br. Damien (it’s almost 50 miles between Oxford and Detroit).  In eager attendance were many relatives from his family, among them his mother along with some of the parishioners of the church.
     The preparations for the ordination was not an easy task.  First, Br. Damien had to travel from New York to Detroit on Friday night because he is a student at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers.  He arrived in Detroit at 10 pm then was driven to St. Scholastica to practice for the ceremony with Fr. Daniel Homan.  Finally, he came home (to St. Benedict Monastery) shortly after Midnight!  Because the Sunday Mass is celebrated at St. Benedict Monastery at 9:30 am, there was not a lot of time for the monks before they left the monastery for the church in Detroit.  In hindsight, all of the monks as well as our friends from the Oxford area who attended the Mass at St. Scholastica felt that being present at the ordination was a very inspirational experience!
     The Mass and ordination was followed by a jubilant, but simple celebration in the community room at St. Sylvester Monastery (adjacent to the church).  The monks and many of their friends enjoyed the company of the Bishop as they ate the refreshments prepared by some of the parishioners of St. Scholastica Parish.  The other monks, Frs. John Colautti, Bartholomew Kraemer, Livy Paoli and Leo Cornelli (former Abbot of the our Benedictine Congregation) joined in the “post-Mass” festivities.  Unfortunately because of his studies, Br. Damien immediately after the celebration had to go back to the Seminary in Yonkers.  We ask all our visitors to pray for Br. Damien’s ministry as a transitional Deacon and for a successful last semester at St. Joseph Seminary.
 
 

Congratulations
Brother Damien!

 

 

All above photos courtesy of Ann Haefner






THIS NEWS PAGE IS UPDATED EVERY MONDAY.
 
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What is a Monk?
History
Vocation Information
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Reflections
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Pray for Us!
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