COMBINED PRIESTHOOD AND DIACONATE ORDINATION

November 20, 2023 at 2:50 p.m.

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger hands the Book of the Gospels to newly ordained Father Daniel Vallejo during his Ordination Mass on Nov. 18 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

Deacons Paul McDonald (l.) and Tom Fallati (c.) and Father Daniel Vallejo are welcomed into the fraternity of deacons and priests during their combined Ordination Mass ordination on Nov. 18 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger performs the Laying of Hands on candidate Tom Fallati (c.) after doing the same with candidate Paul McDonald (l.) during their diaconate ordination on Nov. 18 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

Father Daniel Vallejo embraces his sister, Natalia Vallejo Rios, after he’s vested during his Ordination Mass on Nov. 18 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

-Father Daniel Vallejo distributes Communion during his Ordination to the Priesthood on Nov. 18 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

Paul McDonald, right, receives help donning his robe as he is vested with stole and dalmatic during their ordination for deacon on Saturday Nov. 18, 2023, at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Albany, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(Cindy Schultz)**

Pews are reserved for family members of candidate Tom Fallati for his ordination to become a deacon on Nov. 18 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

Priests lay their hands on candidate Daniel Vallejo during his Ordination Mass on Nov. 18 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

The congregation applauds as candidates for deacon and priest are introduced. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

Candidates for deacon and priest supplicant themselves before the altar during the Litany of Supplication during their ordination on Saturday Nov. 18, 2023, at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Father Daniel Vallejo and Deacons Thomas Fallati and Paul McDonald were ordained at a combined Priesthood and Diaconate Ordination Mass on Nov. 18 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany with Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger presiding. Deacon Fallati will continue to serve at St. Kateri Parish in Schenectady as will Deacon McDonald at St. Clement’s Church in Saratoga Springs, Notre Dame-Visitation Church in Schuylerville and St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich. During his homily, Bishop Scharfenberger touched on elements of love that are found in all sacraments something he wrote about in last week’s Evangelist in which he said of the three men, ‘This is a momentous occasion then, not only for them but for all of us and to those whom they will serve, for primarily they are accepting a ministry of service, a ministry of love, which is what diakonia (Greek for diaconate) is all about.”