BRIDGEPORT
- On Saturday, May 17, Bishop William E. Lori will
ordain Deacon Ian Jeremiah and Deacon Samuel Kachuba
as priests for the Diocese of Bridgeport.
The 10
a.m. Mass will be celebrated at Saint Augustine Cathedral,
359 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport. All are welcome to attend.
God's
Call
"The Diocese
of Bridgeport is very excited that these men have responded to
God's call," says Father Peter Lynch, director of vocations for
the Diocese of Bridgeport. "They're fine young men who are loved
in every pastoral assignment where they served."
Serving as
deacons at the Ordination Mass were four seminarians who were
ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Lori on May 10:
Deacon Frank Gómez, Deacon Ignacio Ortigas, Deacon Bruce Roby,
and Deacon Sebastine Ukwandu. Ordination as transitional
deacons is the last step on the journey to priestly ordination.
CAPTION:
TWO SEMINARIANS OF THE DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT, Ian Jeremiah (center)
and Samuel Kachuba (right), will be ordained to the priesthood
on May 17. They are shown here preparing for their ordination
as transitional deacons last year in Saint Augustine Cathedral.
(PHOTO BY KAREN LEFFLER)
Deacon
Ian Jeremiah
Deacon Jeremiah,
44, the youngest of a family of four girls and three boys, was
born and raised in Malaysia, in the town of Ipoh. His father,
Allan, is deceased; his mother, Freda, now lives in Massapequa,
NY. He attended La Salle Primary School and Saint Michael's Institution
(a secondary school, the equivalent of high school here), and
graduated from the National University of Malaysia with a degree
in accounting.
Deacon Jeremiah
came to America and worked as an accountant at Daytop, Inc., a
not-for-profit organization in New York City, while getting an
M.B.A. from Columbia University. He was living in Stamford and
attending Mass at his home parish of Saint Maurice when he saw
a pamphlet on vocations published by the Knights of Columbus.
He subsequently entered the Saint John Fisher Seminary Residence
in 2002. He completed his seminary studies at Mount Saint Mary's
Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD.
Deacon Jeremiah
has held summer assignments at Saint Mary Parish in Ridgefield;
Saint Joseph Parish in Shelton; Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown;
and Saint Joseph Parish in Danbury.
"Looking back
over my life, God's guiding hand is now obvious to me when I consider
the countless people who have been instrumental in strengthening
my faith, increasing my humility, and helping me discern God's
call to the priesthood: my loving parents; my brothers and sisters;
my teachers and principals; a Redemptorist priest, Father Ryan;
and countless others, both priests and the lay faithful, both
young and old," Deacon Jeremiah says.
"As a priest,
I hope to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the many people
who are in search of God, in search of hope, in need of encouragement,
direction, truth, and love, and to share this message with them:
'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the
heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that
love Him,'" he continues. "It is as if my heart hears Christ saying,
'Yes, my sheep need to hear the gospel preached, they need to
have their sins forgiven, they need to be nourished on the Eucharist,
they need to have someone show them my love and charity.' To me,
the word 'priest' is not just a noun, it's a verb - a call to
action. By the grace of God, I want to be that instrument of God
who loves and can bring the love of Christ to others."
The newly-ordained
Father Jeremiah will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, May 18,
at 12:00 noon at Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown. Msgr. Robert
Weiss, pastor of Saint Rose, will be the homilist.
Deacon
Samuel Kachuba
Deacon Kachuba,
24, the son of Michael and Mary Ellen Kachuba, grew up in Stratford,
where three parishes can proudly claim him as their own. He was
baptized in Our Lady of Peace Parish, attended Saint James Elementary
School, and was an altar boy in his home parish of Saint Mark's,
where his parents and brother, Gabriel, are still parishioners.
He attended Saint Joseph High School in Trumbull, during which
time he explored a vocation to the priesthood at Youth 2000 New
England and retreats at Saint John Fisher. He entered Saint John
Fisher following his graduation in 2001.
Deacon Kachuba
attended Fordham University in Bronx, NY, while at the Saint John
Fisher Residence, graduating in 2004 magna cum laude, with
a bachelor's degree in philosophy. He obtained his S.T.B. degree,
also magna cum laude, from the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome, living at the Pontifical North American College. He is
currently studying for a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the
Gregorian University, which he will complete in the spring of
2009.
Deacon Kachuba
spent two summers in Mexico studying Spanish, and worked one summer
in Madrid, Spain, with the Missionaries of Charity. He has served
at Saint Ann Parish in Bridgeport, Saint Pius X Parish in Fairfield,
and Saint Mary Parish in Norwalk.
"I thank God
every day for the graces He has given me and for the blessing
of this vocation," Deacon Kachuba says. "It will be a real privilege
to serve Christ and all His people. I pray that the ministry entrusted
to me will be a source of grace and inspiration for those I will
serve."
"The Lord
called me through the voices of many people - friends, teachers,
family - who encouraged me to discern a vocation to the priesthood,"
Deacon Kachuba continues. "The more I prayed about the idea of
being a priest, the more I fell in love with Christ, with the
priesthood, and with the People of God. My hope and prayer in
priestly ministry is that I can help people to see how Christ
is active in their daily lives, how He loves them in every moment,
and help them see that holiness, a relationship with God, and
real, lasting joy is not only possible, but is being given to
them by our merciful and loving God."
The newly-ordained
Father Kachuba will celebrate his first Mass at Saint James Parish
on Sunday, May 18, at 3 p.m. Msgr. Kevin Royal, episcopal vicar
for clergy for the diocese, will deliver the homily.
(For more
information on the Vocations program of the Diocese of Bridgeport
and how to become a priest, visit www.HearTheCall.org.)
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