Three men ordained transitional deacons

At the ordination Mass at St. Paul Cathedral May 17, Deacons Christopher Aubrey, Rafael Longhini and John Sullivan were ordained to the diaconate. They are transitional deacons to be ordained priests next year. The three men are seen prostrating themselves in front of the altar during the Mass.“It symbolizes [the ordinand’s] unworthiness for the office to be assumed and his dependence upon God and the prayers of the Christian community,” according to an ordination FAQ sheet by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.