May 22, 2021

Seven men ordained as permanent deacons for the Springfield Diocese

REGIONAL
Staff report

(iObserve photo/Fred LeBlanc)

SPRINGFIELD – Accompanied by their wives, seven men processed into St. Michael’s Cathedral ready to serve as permanent deacons in the Diocese of Springfield. Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne celebrated the special 11 a.m. Mass called the Rite of Ordination of Deacons.

“This is a great joy today to celebrate, for the men and for me as well. This is the first time I’ve been privileged to ordain men to the diaconate,” said Bishop Byrne. He encouraged the men to spend time in prayer, especially before the Blessed Sacrament because “ministry comes from prayer.”

The new permanent deacons are: Lawrence F. Channel, Greenfield; Brian E. Hunt, Feeding Hills; Marc-Arthur G. Jean-Mary, Springfield; John L. Murray, South Hadley; Daniel Prats, Chicopee; Michael J. Pray, Chicopee; and Gerald P. Sheehan, Wilbraham.

The four year diaconate formation program requires men to attend college courses at Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee two nights a week, while holding down full-time jobs and caring for their families.

During the Rite of Ordination, the bishop calls the candidates forward, and asks each to declare their intentions to be obedient to the bishop and his successors. Then the seven men lie prostrate, as a sign of total submission to God as the congregation sings the Litany of Saints.

The bishop then lays his hands on each candidate. After the prayer of consecration, the priest from each deacon’s parish, helped him put on the stole and dalmatic. They are also presented with the Book of the Gospels.

Here are brief biographies of the newly ordained deacons:

Deacon Lawrence Channel and his wife Sue have two children and are members of St. Joseph Parish in Shelburne Falls. Channel is a cyber-security consultant at Mass Mutual Insurance Company in Springfield.

Deacon Brian Hunt and his wife Maria have three children and belong to Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield. He is a retired firefighter/paramedic.

Deacon Marc Arthur Jean-Mary and his wife Luneda have two teenaged sons and are members of Holy Cross Parish in Springfield. Deacon Jean-Mary is a driver employed by First- Student in Springfield.

Deacon John Murray and his wife Sandra have two grown children and are members of St. Theresa of Lisieux in South Hadley. Murray is employed by Beers and Story Funeral Home in Palmer.

Deacon Daniel Prats and his wife Julie are members of St. Rose de Lima Parish in Chicopee. He is a regional manager for Palmer Paving Corporation. Deacon Prats has an adult daughter.

Deacon Michael Pray and his wife Kristie have three adult children and are members of St. Stanislaus Basilica Bishop and Martyr Parish in Chicopee. Deacon Pray is employed by Collins Aerospace in Windsor Locks, Conn., as a business systems specialist.

Deacon Jerry Sheehan and his wife Robin have seven children and are members of St. Cecilia Parish in Wilbraham. Deacon Sheehan works in sales for Life Truck of West Springfield.

Currently, there are 73 permanent deacons in the diocese. They play an important role in the life of the Catholic Church as part of the ordained ministry. They assist a priest during Mass. They can proclaim the Gospel and preach, and like a priest they are also ordinary ministers of the sacrament of baptism. They can be married or unmarried, but cannot marry after they are ordained.

Bishop Joseph F. Maguire ordained the first permanent deacons in the Diocese of Springfield on Jan. 15, 1983.