Seminarian ordained a deacon

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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Bishop Oscar A. Solis hands on the Book of the Gospels to the newly ordained Deacon Kenneth Parsad during the Nov. 22 Rite of Ordination of a Deacon at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

SALT LAKE CITY — Seminarian Kenneth Parsad was ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop Oscar A. Solis at the Cathedral of the Madeleine on Nov. 22. The Mass, with Bishop Solis presiding, was concelebrated by vicars general emeriti Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw and Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald; Father John Evans, vicar general; Father Martin Diaz, rector of the cathedral; Father Langes Silva, judicial vicar; Father Kenneth Vialpando, vicar for clergy; Father Dominic Sternhagen, vocations director; and various priests of the diocese. Deacon John Kranz and Deacon Guillermo Mendez assisted at the Mass; other deacons also assisted. Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem were in attendance; the Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard. Mindy Allen provided ASL interpretation.

In his homily prior to the ordination rites, Bishop Solis shared the history of the diaconate. He then addressed Parsad, the other seminarians who are preparing to become priests for the Diocese of Salt Lake City and three young men who are discerning a call to the priesthood.

“In the ordination, words often fall short, because aside from the excitement that you feel, we are dealing with the mystery of God calling an individual to serve him and his Church,” he said.

“One thing I want you to remember: You need to develop a special love and devotion for the Eucharist, so people can experience the presence of Christ in you through the ministry of the word,” he said. “You will preach the word of God, not the word of the modern culture, which also often leads those who follow down the path of conflict, expediency, convenience and ultimately, to emptiness. I want you to proclaim the eternal truth and teach God’s words, not yours, when you preach the Gospel.”

“In the ministry, you will be the voice for the voiceless, the heart of Christ, reaching out to the poor, the incarcerated, the lost and the marginalized to bring them hope, comfort and healing, comfort and healing of their suffering,” he said. “You can be an effective instrument of God’s love if you have the authentic compassion that comes from the heart of Christ. Your favorite saint, St. Therese of Lisieux, once said, ‘Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.’ So let your good works reflect God’s infinite love and mercy for the world, especially for the sinners.”

Bishop Solis praised Parsad for choosing the path to the priesthood.

“Kenneth, what I preach to you tonight is not as important as what you’re preaching to all of us, to your family, to your friends, to the clergy and the laity, especially to the congregation gathered in this beautiful Cathedral of the Madeleine tonight,” he told Parsad. “Your yes, your yes to God and surrender to his own will is a powerful reminder of what all of us are called to be for one another, and this is no small gift for which we and the universal Church are grateful.”

During the ordination rites, Fr. Sternhagen and Father Ariel Durian, pastor of Saint Peter Parish in American Fork, vested Deacon Parsad.

Deacon Parsad was moved by the commitments he made during the ordination rites, he told the Intermountain Catholic later.

“The promises I made – that was powerful,” he said. “I’m saying ‘yes’ to the Lord for eternity, and that’s profoundly moving. And also, the Litany of the Saints, when I did the prostration, those were powerful moments for me.”

“Coming into the ordination, I was nervous, but now I feel at peace; I would say it feels right,” he said.

Deacon Parsad, who is from the Philippines, will complete his studies at Mt. Angel Seminary next month. He is scheduled to be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Salt Lake City in June 2025.