Alfonso Pizano Jr. kneels before Bishop Dennis Walsh during the Promise of the Elect Aug. 2 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. Pizano was ordained a deacon. Assisting are Deacon Angel Hernandez, Deacon Andrew Reif and seminarian Blake Riffel.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — Newly ordained Deacon Alfonso Pizano Jr. said that during his ordination, “I felt this deep sense of gratitude and joy. It’s been a long road to get here, and there were times I wondered if I’d ever see this day, but God has been so steady and faithful.” Bishop Dennis Walsh ordained Deacon Pizano on Aug. 2 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. Family from California, Arkansas and Texas came to witness the celebration.
Before the Mass began, the procession line of liturgical ministers along the cathedral’s 10th Street entrance wound down the sidewalk toward the rectory. The deacon candidate concentrated on looking ahead to calm his nerves.
“What a day this is,” Bishop Walsh proclaimed inside the cathedral. “We’re all here to witness something really special. The Holy Spirit is about to do an amazing thing, pouring himself on Alfonso who has answered Jesus’ call to serve.”
In his homily, the bishop said, “Jesus tells us he’s not calling us servants anymore; he’s calling us his friends. There is such power in this friendship with Jesus. A servant might do what they’re told out of duty, but a friend does it out of love. Jesus gives us the greatest gift, a new command: we’re supposed to love each other just like he has loved us … and to remain in his love.”
“That’s the beautiful mystery we’re celebrating today,” Bishop Walsh said. “This ordination to the diaconate is a way of making that very love and service real and visible. It’s a public sign for all of us and for the whole Church, that every Christian is called to serve.”
The diaconate “in a unique and powerful way” demonstrates the love of Christ the servant. “Alfonso will soon stand at the altar and assist the priest. He will preach the Gospel with his words and will go out to the community to serve those in need. Each of these actions, from baptizing a baby to bringing Communion to the sick, is rooted in this single act of charity. It’s the entire Church’s call to service, made tangible and present in you.”
Bishop Walsh said the diaconate is not a stop on the way to becoming a priest. “No, it’s a permanent and special calling all its own. It’s a gift from God, a charism that you’ll have to truly make your own, deep down inside.” He added, “It’s a permanent mark on your soul, a consecration to a life of charity …. It’s a profound spiritual change that will shape your entire life …” That is true “whether one is ordained to the priesthood or one remains a permanent deacon.”
Referring to saints as examples of service, the bishop quoted St. Vincent de Paul: “Humility and charity are the two pillars of Christian life.” Speaking to the deacon-elect, Bishop Walsh said, “This becomes the blueprint for your whole life. This is what you say yes to today.” In loving “as Christ loves, we must give ourselves completely, and we must do so with a humble heart.”
“From today on, you are saying to the whole Church that your entire life will be a living example of these truths. You’re being ordained to become an instrument of God’s love in a world that needs it so badly. You’ll be Jesus’ hands and feet, serving the poor, spreading the Gospel, and helping out at the altar.…”
“You’ll go out and find Christ in people who are hungry, sick or lonely and then you’ll bring that same Christ to the altar to serve him in the Mass.”
Deacon Alfonso Pizano Jr. poses with Bishop Dennis Walsh at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport Aug. 2.
The deacon-elect promised his faithful service and obedience as an ordained minister to the Catholic Church. Deacon Frank Agnoli, diocesan director of Liturgy and master of ceremony for the Mass, led Pizano to the center aisle to lie prostrate for the Litany of Supplication.
Bishop Walsh performed the rite of laying on of hands and the prayer of ordination. After Deacon Pizano’s vesting, Bishop Walsh handed him the Book of the Gospels. “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read. Teach what you believe. And practice what you teach.” Afterwards, the deacons in attendance shared the sign of peace with hugs and congratulations for Deacon Pizano.
As the congregation sang “O God Beyond All Praising” for the recessional hymn, Deacon Pizano had a big smile on his face and waved as he headed out of the cathedral in the line of liturgical ministers. “Looking ahead to priesthood, I’m excited and humbled,” he said afterwards. “These next months are about serving as a deacon with my whole heart, finishing my seminary studies and letting God continue to shape me for the life he’s calling me to. I am thankful for all the prayers and support that have carried me to this very important point in my life.”
Deacon Pizano’s brother, Augustine Pizano, said, “I saw a servant of God rising to meet the purpose assigned to him — to serve others.” Alicia Cook, Deacon Pizano’s mother, said there were no tears. “This has been more than 40 years in the making. It’s been a long time. My heart palpitated. This has been an emotional day. We’ve been waiting for this to happen. Today, that day is here.”
