Three Capital Region men will be ordained as deacons of the Catholic Church this morning with a special ceremony at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.
Daniel Quinn, 28, of Johnstown, will be ordained as a traditional deacon and continue his studies for the priesthood. Stephen Lape, 38, of Scotia, and James O’Rourke, 58, of Guilderland, will be ordained as permanent deacons.
The Ordination of the Diaconate will begin at 11 a.m. and will be overseen by Bishop Howard Hubbard. The celebration represents a culmination of at least three years of training and a formal dedication to the church.
As deacons in the ministry, the men will assist at the Eucharist and will be capable of officiating at weddings, baptisms and funerals.
Quinn, a graduate of Johnstown High School and the State University of New York at Fredonia, is now working on his master’s degree at St. Mary’s Seminary. His church assignments have included Camp Scully in Wynantskill, Saint Teresa in Albany, St. Ambrose in Latham, and St. Anthony in Schenectady.
He credits the Revs. Joseph Barker and Jim Fitzmaurice in Johnstown with playing a large role in his religious life.
Some of his interests include the trombone, the penny whistle and singing. “I played and sang in the ensembles at my college, and I sing at the seminary,” Quinn said in a news release. “My love of music, especially sacred music, was instilled in me from a young age by our parish organist/music director and by my teachers in high school.”
Stephen Lape, who grew up in Richmondville, is currently the program manager for St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center in Albany. He credits his family members, the community of St. Anna’s Church and all the parishes he has belonged to since leaving home as strong influences in his religious life.
“I entered the deaconate primarily for the service aspect. Bringing the love of God outside the walls of our church through our behaviors towards others,” Lape said.
James O’Rourke, who is a member of St. Teresa’s Parish, is studying at St. Bernard’s Seminary and is currently manager of respiratory therapy at St. Peter’s Hospital.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany is one of eight such dioceses in New York state. It encompasses 14 counties and is home to over 360,000 Catholics.
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