Briggs Hurley Ordained to Transitional Diaconate in Rome

September 29, 2016 • Diocese of St. Augustine

On Thursday, Sept. 29, Briggs Andrew Hurley of the Diocese of St. Augustine was among 30 seminarians from the Pontifical North American College ordained to the transitional diaconate.

Newly ordained deacon Briggs Hurley stands with Father David Keegan, parochial vicar at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Ponte Vedra Beach, inside of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. | Photo courtesy of Father David Keegan — Newly ordained deacon Briggs Hurley (right) stands with Father David Keegan, parochial vicar of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Ponte Vedra Beach, inside of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. | Photo courtesy of Father David Keegan

Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM. Cap., Archbishop of Boston, was the ordaining prelate at the Ordination Mass, celebrated at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter, in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter, in the Vatican. Cardinal O’Malley, a member of the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin, has been the Archbishop of Boston since 2003, and was named a Cardinal in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI, and he participated in the conclave which elected Pope Francis in 2013.

In his homily, Cardinal O’Malley spoke to the men about to be ordained, reminding them of the crucial connection to their service at the liturgy with their works of charity for the Church and all her people. Reminding them that the recently canonized St. Teresa of Calcutta always had the words “I Thirst” written next to the tabernacle where her sisters prayed, the Cardinal noted that this longing for and reception of Jesus in the Eucharist was the preparation the sisters needed to take care of the sick, the suffering and forgotten they would see throughout the day, who were in fact, “Jesus in disguise.” He reminded them that their privileged work at the altar was in fact, as servants, and that in the Lord’s wisdom, Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet was intrinsically connected to the first Eucharist, that liturgy and joyful service are always bound together.

Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston ordains seminarians as transitional deacons during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Sept. 29. Thirty seminarians studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome were ordained as transitional deacons. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) — Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston ordains seminarians as transitional deacons during a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Sept. 29. Thirty seminarians studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome were ordained as transitional deacons. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

During the ordination, the new deacons promised to live a life of prayer, celibacy and obedience to their diocesan bishop. The new deacons will have an additional year of theological studies and spiritual formation before they are ordained to the priesthood in their home dioceses.

As part of the ordination rite, the Cardinal placed the Book of the Gospels in the hands of each candidate being ordained and said, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

The Pontifical North American College serves as the American seminary in Rome. Founded in 1859 by Blessed Pius IX, the college has formed more than 5,000 priests near the heart of the Church for service in dioceses around the United States, Canada and Australia. The College strengthens the bonds between Rome and local Churches worldwide, and it allows its students to study the Church’s rich religious and cultural heritage at close range.