Isley Family Life: Ordination Weekend

In May, my dad completed his long journey to ordination to the diaconate. It was the culmination of a seven year journey of prayer, discernment, and study. It represented countless books read, papers written, hours of study, and weekends of lecture. My dad and mom sacrificed so much to get to this weekend in May, in which my dad promised to the church a future full of more sacrifice in his ordained ministry. Words cannot express how proud I am of my dad's yes to God's call to the diaconate. I am so proud of my mom for her yes, too.

Our parish had a dinner in honor of my dad and the other deacon candidate from our parish, attended by our families and close friends. They both had the opportunity to say a word of thanks, and our pastor and three current deacons gave words of congratulations and wisdom.

My dad talked about how humbled he was to be called to the diaconate and to be the recipient of all our support.

The pastor presented some gifts to the deacon candidates.

The ordination mass on that Saturday morning in May was beautiful - truly a glimpse of heaven on earth.

My dad with his class. They had been through so much together through the years, truly a band of brothers.

My mom helped my dad get robed in his new vestments.

Receiving the kiss of peace (actually a hug) from the bishop.

Peace from his fellow deacons.

Processing out.

My terrible attempt at a photo of my dad with his ordination class (see below for a better one).

I got some of the photos from the Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine that were posted online that I would like to share as well. All credit for these photos goes to the photographer from the EOC.

The men praying together in the chapel before the ordination mass. Credit: EOC file photo

The deacon candidates processing in. Credit: EOC file photo

Credit: EOC file photo

You can see my dad in the middle aisle on the left, laying prostrate right next to my mom. Credit: EOC file photo

Credit: EOC file photo

The kiss of peace. Credit: EOC file photo

In this month's EOC in an article about the diaconate. The laying of hands. Credit: EOC file photo

My dad with his ordination class. Credit: EOC file photo

Our good friend from undergraduate, Bryan, was also ordained this beautiful Saturday in May. He was ordained to the priesthood after many years of study and discernment. Fr. Bryan is now the associate pastor of our parish, so we have been blessed to reap the early fruit of his ordained ministry. We are so proud of Fr. Bryan, too, for his yes to God's call. It was joyful to be present for this momentous day.

Some of us put together a book of photos and lyrics for an ordination present for Fr. Bryan because he sent us updates through his years of seminary in the form of limericks. Here is what I wrote for the occasion:

Ode to Father Bryan

In two thousand five we first met

Good friends we became you can bet

Through frisbee tourneys

And European journeys

We made mem'ries we'll never forget

Conversations always went deep

When we should've been fast asleep

Walking round flower beds

Chatting o'er tasty spreads

Gifts from Spirit were ripe then to reap

The caf was a thorn in your side

But I was not too shy to chide

You cooked often for us

Game nights were a plus

Some nights we would laugh til we cried

Newman was a garden of prayer

Buoyed by your presence there

You taught us to pray

Throughout night and day

Your strong faith you always did share

The struggle you had to endure

In deciding to leave the secure

To follow God's call

Like Sts. Peter and Paul

Was hard and scary we're sure

You studied so hard now for years

You're shed lots of sweat and some tears

You've given much up

Yet God fills your cup

And will graciously calm all your fears

You are a priest of the Lord!

And into your heart He has poured

His mercy and love

His grace from above

May our good God be praised and adored!

May you always remember this day

How we love and support you and pray

That God's work will be done

As you rely on His Son

And from His path you won't stray

Our family's been so blessed by you

By your friendship and all that you do

We're so very proud

That you have allowed

God's anointing your soul to imbue!

Deacon Bryan asked my dad to serve as a deacon during his priestly ordination mass. This was my dad's first mass as a deacon, and Father Bryan's first mass as a priest!

Brother Stephen was a lector.

We look nice cleaned up and out of scrubs, don't we? ;-)

My new dress for the special occasion.

In the evening, we celebrated with a big family party. My grandparents and a couple aunts and uncles came in for the ordination, which meant a lot to my dad.