On Saturday, November 15th Saint Anselm parishioners congratulated Deacon Jose Henriquez on the occasion of his ordination to the Transitional Diaconate by Cardinal Timothy Dolan at Saint Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie on the 1st of November. The ordination of 21 young men from the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens, and the Diocese of Rockville Center was an occasion of joy and celebration.
Parishioners of Saint Anselm first had the opportunity to get to know Deacon Jose when, as a seminarian, he spent a period of just over two months in residence with us from May through early July in 2013 and again during the summer of 2014. Over the past year and a half he has been a frequent guest at the parish and has participated in numerous liturgies.
Deacon Henriquez participated in the Liturgy at the 5 PM Saturday Evening Mass on the 15th, proclaiming the Gospel and giving the homily. At the conclusion of the Mass Deacon Henriquez visited the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary for a moment of private prayer, explaining that is customary for a newly ordained deacon or priest to ask Mary’s aid to strengthen them in being faithful to Christ.
Parishioners congratulated him on his ordination with applause and greeted him warmly at the end of the Mass outside the main doors of the church. Deacon Jose will be assigned to Saint Joseph Co-Cathedral in downtown Brooklyn to be part of the growing Spanish language ministry in that parish. He is looking forward to ordination to the priesthood in the spring of 2015.
Parishioners will keep him in their prayers and always look forward to welcoming him “home” to Saint Anselm.
All the best.
The St. Anselm Publicity Committee