"Being a deacon is not merely a step towards priesthood. It is the conforming of one’s life to Christ as the servant of all. In fact, the name ‘deacon’ comes directly from the Greek word for ‘servant.’ As I prepare to enter into this service, I am so grateful for all of those who have shown me by their example what it means to serve others with love."
By Dr. Joe McAleer
The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary are pleased to announce that Br. Patrick Lynch, MIC will be ordained to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 9:00 a.m. ET at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
The Most Rev. William D. Byrne, Bishop of Springfield, Massachusetts, will celebrate the Mass and confer the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Due to limited seating, attendance at the Mass is by invitation only. The Mass will be livestreamed here and on YouTube, beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET.
Men studying for the priesthood are ordained as transitional deacons prior to beginning their final year of study before ordination to the priesthood. Deacons are able to preach at Mass, baptize, and celebrate weddings, while undergoing additional pastoral, liturgical, and educational preparation.
Conversion of heart
Brother Patrick, 29, was born in Princeton, New Jersey, one of six children of Denise and Griff Lynch. “My siblings and I were raised in a very devout Catholic family, but I was not really interested in my faith very much until I was about 13 or 14,” he admits. “At that time in my life I had a real conversion of heart and wanted to learn about God.”
Thanks to his Mom’s suggestion, Patrick began studying the Baltimore Catechism, famous for its question-and-answer format (“Why did God make me?” “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven.”).
“Catholicism is fascinating when it is presented well, and I was captivated by what I was learning through my study of the Baltimore Catechism and other books,” Br. Patrick relates. “I also began reading the lives of the saints, and that was my first real exposure to the vocation to religious life.”
Pilgrimage
When he was 19, a friend invited Patrick and his Dad to make a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. “Father Timothy Childers, who was then a seminarian, gave us a wonderful tour and told us about the charism of the Marians,” he recalls. He got in touch with Fr. Calloway, attended a “Come & See” retreat, and entered the program in 2017.
A linguist, fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin, Br. Patrick worked on the multi-year project translating the writings of St. Stanislaus Papczyński, Founder of the Marians. In 2022, he was sent to live at the Marian House in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to study theology.
Following his diaconate ordination, Br. Patrick will be assigned to the Marian Fathers' Divine Mercy Apostolate in London, England, working alongside newly-ordained Fr. Alexander Pumphrey, MIC, and Fr. Lukasz Mazurek, MIC.
He served at Fr. Alex's Ordination Mass, celebrated at the National Shrine on Aug. 16.
To serve
“Among the many beautiful graces of Fr. Alex’s ordination day, one thing which struck me in particular was Bishop Edward Scharfenberger’s homily,” Br. Patrick recalls. “He reminded Fr. Alex that to be a good priest one must first be a faithful deacon.
“These words struck me in a particular way. I was reminded that being a deacon is not merely a step towards priesthood. It is the conforming of one’s life to Christ as the servant of all. In fact, the name ‘deacon’ comes directly from the Greek word for ‘servant.’
“As I prepare to enter into this service,” Br. Patrick concludes, “I am so grateful for all of those who have shown me by their example what it means to serve others with love. In a particular way, I want to thank our Marian Helpers, whose prayers and generosity were a constant support during my formation. May God reward you for all you do for us.”
Please pray for Br. Patrick Lynch, MIC, and all of our Marian priests, brothers, and seminarians!
Is God calling you to be a priest? Or do you know someone who would make an ideal priest? Contact us!
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