Alan Martineau ordained a deacon in St. Peter's Basilica

    VATICAN CITY – On Sept. 28, Alan Martineau of Spencer was ordained to the diaconate by  Bishop James Checchio, of Metuchen, N.J., with 30 of his classmates from the Pontifical North American College. The ordination took place in St. Peter’s Basilica. Deacon Martineau has studied at Assumption College, through the Holy Name of Jesus House of Studies, and the Theological College at The Catholic University of America. He is beginning studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University and expects to be ordained a priest at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Worcester this summer.
    In his homily Bishop Checchio spoke of the need for a priest to have a love for his people, basing his comments off the recent beatification of Father Stanley Rother. Present from the Diocese of Worcester were Bishop McManus; Msgrs. Francis D. Kelly and Robert K. Johnson; Fathers Chester J. Misiewicz, Juan D. Echavarria, and Donato Infante; and seminarians Alfredo Porras, Lucas LaRoche, and Michael Hoye; as well as Deacon Martineau’s family.
    Msgr. Kelly, a priest of the Diocese of Worcester and Canon of St. Peter’s Basilica, said that it was very inspiring that “more than thirty men made this solemn commitment of their lives, especially in these times of secularism: to be courageously willing to step forth and accept celibacy and the Divine Office.”

  Top: Worcester priests and seminarians gather with Bishop McManus and Alan Martineau after his ordination Sept. 28 at St. Peter's Basilica. (Photo courtesy of Diocese of Worcester Office of Vocations.)
Above: Bishop James Checchio, of Metuchen, N.J., ordains Alan Martineau of Spencer. (Photo courtesy of PNAC Photo Service)