AtonementOnline: A new deacon

25 March 2007

A new deacon

What a joyful and blessed event for the Anglican Use community in Scranton, Pennsylvania! Eric Bergman, the future pastor of the St. Thomas More community there, was ordained as a Catholic Deacon on March 24th. His ordination to the Priesthood will take place (God willing) on April 21st, and with that he and his congregation will begin a new and important chapter of their existence in the Catholic Church.

Please pray for Deacon Bergman and his beautiful family, as well as for the faithful laity there. It has been a long path, and sometimes a struggle, as they moved from the Episcopal Church into the fullness of the Catholic faith. May God give many others this same courage and grace.

"With all my heart, I bless you and your people..."

In 1983 I was a newly-ordained priest. In November of that year, it was my privilege to be in Rome to take part in developing The Book of Divine Worship. During that time an invitation was extended to celebrate Mass with His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in his private chapel. After we had said Mass, and in those few moments I had with the Holy Father, he told me that he remembered considering the request for my ordination, and he described how he came to an affirmative decision. For me, our brief conversation was an experience which will be treasured forever. At the conclusion of our time together, I asked him if I could take his blessing back to the people of my parish. His very simple words remain precious to me: "With all my heart, I bless you and your people." He then embraced me, and I knew that I was forever "home in my Father's house."