Ferris to be ordained to transitional diaconate May 15

The Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, apostolic administrator for the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, will ordain Brennan Ferris, a seminarian for the diocese, to the Transitional Diaconate at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 15, at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Wilmington.

Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, the event is by invitation only. It will be livestreamed on the diocesan YouTube channel, YouTube.com/DioceseofWilmington.

Ferris, who will turn 26 this month, is a native of Wilmington and graduate of St. Elizabeth elementary and high schools. He earned his undergraduate degree in Catholic theology while at the College Seminary of the Immaculate Conception at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. He is currently working on his advanced degree at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore.

Diaconate is a ministry rooted deeply in scriptural accounts of the early church. The word "deacon" comes from the Greek word diakonia, which means "to serve." There are two types of deacons in the Catholic Church. Those who are ordained to the order and remain in it are known as permanent deacons. Those who are ordained to the order on their way to priestly ordination are called transitional deacons. Ferris is on track to be ordained to the priesthood in 2022.

For more information about the Diocese of Wilmington's efforts to increase vocations-awareness and to work with people who may have priestly or religious vocations, contacting the Rev. Norman Carroll, director of priestly and religious vocations, at 302-573-3113 or vocations@cdow.org. For more information, go to cdow.org/vocation.

The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was established in 1868 and comprises 56 parishes, 18 missions and 29 schools serving the State of Delaware and the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore.