Br. Michael Stechmann ordained a Transitional Deacon  

On Saturday, November 17, Br. Michael Stechmann, O.A.R., along with twelve classmates from St. John’s Seminary in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, was ordained to the transitional diaconate at Padre Serra Church in Camarillo, CA by Most Rev. Alexander Salazar, Auxiliary Bishop of the San Pedro Region.  Also present was Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis and over 100 concelebrants. Fr. Domingos Machado, O.A.R., Vicar Provincial accompanied the Rector and Vice-Rector in the entrance procession and liturgy and Augustinian Recollects from several communities were present for the ordination liturgy.

This was the largest ordination class in over twenty years and an additional four classmates were ordained in liturgies in the Archdiocese of Seattle and the Diocese of Orange.

The lengthy entrance procession began in the courtyard of the mission-style church adjacent to St. John’s Seminary and upon entering the church, approximately 1,500 family members and friends welcomed the ordinands and concelebrants with enthusiastic song.

The readings for the liturgy were proclaimed in Vietnamese, Spanish and English which was appropriate for the respective groups in attendance and reflective of the diverse student body at St. John’s Seminary. The community was enthusiastic during the calling of the candidates who were presented for ordination. Bishop Salazar addressed the assembly and the elect in his homily about the nature and duties of the deacons and all who share in the mission of the baptized, followed by the ritual prayers and commitment to celibacy and promises of obedience.  The prostration during the singing of the Litany of the Saints was impressive with the thirteen candidates surrounding the large space on all sides of the altar.

Following the Laying on of Hands and the Prayer of Consecration, all of the newly ordained were presented with a deacon stole and dalmatic.  Br. Michael was vested with the stole by Fr. Domingos Machado and Br. Anthony Torretti assisted with the dalmatic.

Br. Michael’s mother, Mrs. Rose Stechmann of Shawnee, KS, was present for the ordination and enjoyed the hospitality of the Recollect communities in Oxnard. Included among guests for Br. Michael were religious men and women from several communities, along with representatives of the Secular Augustinian Recollects, the St. Ezekiel Moreno Chapter of the Guild and parishioners of Mary Star of the Sea Church.

Early in November all 17 of the candidates for diaconate participated in their week-long retreat with the Benedictine Community at Prince of Peace Abbey, Oceanside, CA which was directed by Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle. The retreat was a welcome respite after completion of mid-term examinations, submitting an abundance of research papers and in anticipation of the grace-filled moment of ordination.

Br. Michael was warmly welcomed at Mary Star of the Sea Parish, Oxnard, and is assisting in various ministries including Sunday liturgies, weekly novena and Benediction and Baptisms.  The fall semester of classes will end with final examinations the week of December 17.  The final courses will be completed at St. John’s during the spring semester.

Our new deacon expresses his gratitude to his family and the religious of the Province who have supported him during this vocational discernment. His first ministry after religious profession in 1974 was to the educational apostolate serving as teacher and principal in schools of parishes staffed by our Province. He credits these assignments for providing him with a background and variety of experiences that are so necessary for ministry.  In addition to educational ministries, he was assigned to the Provincial Residence in West Orange, NJ from 1984 – 2000 serving four terms on the Provincial Council and five terms as Secretary of the Province.

Br. Michael Stechmann, OAR