Brother Nelson’s Ordination to the
Sacred Order of the Diaconate
Devon Prep Middle School Religion Teacher Brother Nelson Henao, Sch.P. was ordained to the Sacred Order of the Diaconate on June 12 at St. Norbert Church in Paoli. The Most Reverend Daniel E. Thomas, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, served as the principal celebrant of this special Mass which included the laying on of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit.
Piarist Fathers’ U.S.A. Province Provincial Superior Very Rev. Mario Vizcaino, Sch.P. as well as Devon Prep Chaplain Rev. Richard Wyzkiewicz, Sch. P. served as concelebrants. Several Piarist Fathers from as far as Florida also participated in the Mass. Many Devon Prep students, parents, faculty and staff were in attendance.
Ordination to the Diaconate is the first level of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Since Brother Nelson will ultimately go on to be ordained a Priest, he was ordained a “Transitional” Deacon. Transitional Deacons make promises of celibacy and obedience to the Bishop. They also promise to pray the Liturgy of the Hours each day for all the people of God. Deacons can perform Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. A Deacon also assists the Priest or Bishop at Mass and may give the homily.
Brother Nelson will be ordained to the priesthood in March 2010.