On Pilgrimage to St. Peter's Tomb

September 18, 2018

On Saturday, June 7, 2014. Bishop David J. Walkowiak ordained Rev. Mr. Douglas Braun and Rev. Mr. William

Vander Werff as transitional deacons during celebration of the Eucharist with the Rite of Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. Transitional deacons are deacons preparing for the priesthood.

Please keep these men in your prayers as they continue their discernment of a vocation of priestly ministry in service to our Lord and his people. (Photography by Jonathan Tramontana)

For more information about priestly formation in the diocese, visit www.grpriests.org/Pages/Home.aspx.

The Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw was packed with faithful from across the diocese who came to witness the ordination of Father Adam Maher on June 1.

The Rite of Ordination includes the candidate promising to "discharge the office of priesthood with humility and love, to hold fast to the mystery of faith, to proclaim this faith in word and deed, to embrace the celibate state and to pray for the Church and the whole world," as well as obedience to the bishop and his successors. The candidate then lies prostrate as the congregation prays the Litany of Supplication. Following the prayer, Bishop Cistone and those priests present silently impose their hands upon the candidate. The candidate is then dressed in priestly vestments, a stole and chasuble. He then kneels before the bishop, who anoints his hands with Sacred Chrism and hands over the bread and wine.

A Port Sanilac native, Father Adam completed his seminarian education at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. This July, he will become the Parochial Administrator of Our Lady Consolata Parish, which serves Cass City, Sebewaing, Gagetown and Wilmot.

Regarding his call to the priesthood, Father Adam credits the prayers of so many people to whom he says, "My vocation is the fruit of your prayers. I'm excited to lay my life down for Jesus and for all of you. Your prayers have been preparing me for this. I feel your prayers."