Promise of Obedience

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32

On Saturday, June 28, 2014, we friars joyfully celebrated with Friar Nader at his Ordination to the Diaconate, at St. Casimir Catholic Church, in Baltimore Maryland.
Our Lady of the Angels Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., Called and Presented Friar Nader to Most Reverend Denis J. Madden, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, for the Election by the Bishop and Consent of the People. After the Bishop’s homily, Friar Nader made his Commitment to Celibacy, declared before the people his intention to undertake the Diaconate Office through the Examination of the Candidate by the Bishop, and then made his Promise of Obedience to the Bishop, his Provincial, and their successors. The assembly then made an intercession to God for Friar Nader as all Saints were called upon to join in this great act of intercession through the Litany of the Saints. Prior to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, there was the Laying on of Hands and the Prayer of Consecration by the bishop. Friar Nader was then Invested with a Stole and Dalmatic, knelt before the bishop for the Presentation of the Book of the Gospels and finally was given the Kiss of Peace by the bishop.

Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv. (Assistant General – CFC), Friar Nader Ata, OFM Conv. (Newly Ordained Deacon), Bishop Denis J. Madden (Axillary Bishop – Archdiocese of Baltimore), Fr. James McCurry (Minister Provincial – Our Lady of the Angels). Fr. Dennis Grumsey, OFM Conv. (Pastor – St. Casimir Parish, Baltimore)