A New Franciscan Deacon is Ordained!

Bro. Jerome Wolbert, OFM, was ordained to the Order of Deacon by the hands of Metropolitan Archbishop Basil Schott, OFM at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday, 17 March 2007.

Congratulations, Bro. Jerome! And may God richly bless you, your family, our Franciscan brotherhood and the Byzantine Catholic Church.

Bro. Jerome is originally from eastern Michigan where he grew up and earned his PhD in mathematics and taught for a while. As a young man he joined the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO), having been inspired by the life of St. Francis of Assisi.

He wanted, though, to give his life more fully to the Lord and to the Church as a religious. Bro. Jerome discussed this with then-Bishop Basil of Parma, OH (now the Archbishop of Pittsburgh), who helped guide the young man to consider becoming a Franciscan friar. And Jerome follwed that suggestion. Praise God!

Bro. Jerome has completed his seminary studies and expects to complete his MA in theology from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh this coming fall 2007. From there he will be assigned pastoral ministry within the Byzantine Catholic Church to complete his preparation for ordination to the priesthood.

(In the above photo, Bro. Jerome Wolbert, OFM is located next to Abp. Basil Schott, OFM [with Byzantine Rite miter] on your right. Franciscan friars, diocesan clergy and seminarians surround him.)