Transitional Deacons to be ordained May 26
DUBUQUE — Two men will be ordained transitional deacons 7 p.m. May 26 at St. Raphael Cathedral. Archbishop Michael Jackels will ordain Jacob Rouse, 26, and Andy Upah, 35, both students at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois. Rouse comes from his home parish of St. Patrick in Cedar Rapids and Upah from his home parish of St. Patrick in Tama.
In the Catholic Church, the diaconate is the first of three ranks in ordained ministry, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Deacons preparing for the priesthood are transitional deacons. Those not planning to be ordained priests are called permanent deacons. Married men may be ordained permanent deacons, and single men may be ordained with a commitment to celibacy. The transitional diaconate is a temporary state for men who wish to go on to the priesthood, which they typically enter into about one year before being ordained priests. On May 27, five men will be ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Dubuque at 10:30 a.m. also at St. Raphael Cathedral.
