2012 Ordinations to the Priesthood and Transitional Diaconate

Four Men To Be Ordained Priests for Diocese of Worcester
Two more men ordained deacons on final road to priesthood next year
Contact: Ray Delisle
508-791-5357
Fr. Jim Mazzone
Director of Vocations
508-340-5788

May 24, 2012, WORCESTER, MA – On Saturday, June 2 at 10:00 am Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, STD, Bishop of Worcester, will ordain four men to the order of presbyter, or priesthood, to serve the people of the Diocese of Worcester. They are Deacon Eric Assante, Deacon Hugo Cano, Deacon Michael Clements, and Deacon Jonathan Slavinskas. The ordinations will take place at Cathedral of St. Paul, Chatham and High Streets, Worcester, is open to the public and will be televised on Charter TV3 on Sunday, June 3 at 1 pm and on Wednesday, June 6 at 10 am.

Born in 1973 in Ghana, Deacon Eric Asante attended St. John’s Seminar in Brighton, Mass. He attended Accra Polytechnic in Ghana and then continued studies at DeVry University, Chicago and St. Charles Seminary in Pennsylvania. His summer assignments have included Saint Anthony of Padua, Fitchburg, Christ the King, St. Joan of Arc, and St. Christopher Worcester, St. Mary, Southbridge, and St. Joseph, Auburn. His home parish is St. Peter Parish in Worcester.

Deacon Hugo Cano, who was born in Colombia in 1979, attended St. John’s Seminary in Brighton. His home parish is St. Anthony of Padua, Fitchburg. His education in Colombia included St. Raphael the Archangel High School and Pontifical Bolivarian University. During residence at Holy Name of Jesus House of Studies, in Worcester he studied at Clark University and Boston University. His summer assignments included St. Anthony of Padua, Fitchburg, St. Joseph/St. Pius X, Leicester, St. Mark, Sutton, St. Louis, Webster, and St. Joan of Arc, Worcester.

Deacon Mike Clements also attended St. John’s Seminary in Brighton and was born in 1983 in Leominster. His home parish is Our Lady of the Lake, Leominster. Following graduation from Leominster High School, he attended Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH and Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary. His summer assignments included St. Joseph, Charlton, St. Anna, Leominster, St. Joan of Arc and St. Christopher, Worcester, St. Brigid, Millbury. He also served on weekends at Mary Queen of the Rosary, Spencer.

Born in Worcester in 1984, Deacon Jonathan Slavinskas attended Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD and grew up in St. John Parish, Worcester. After graduating from North High School, Worcester he attended Anna Maria College, Paxton. His summer assignments included St. Anthony of Padua, Fitchburg, St. Louis, Webster, Our Lady Immaculate, Athol, St. Peter, Worcester, and Blessed John Paul II, Southbridge.

Two Men Ordained Transitional Deacons
On Saturday, May 19, Bishop McManus ordained John Hamm and Charles Omolo to the order of deacon at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church, Upton. As transitional deacons they are in their final year of preparation for priesthood.

Deacon John Hamm will complete his Theology studies at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD. Born in 1958, he attended Lenape High School, Medford, NJ and George Mason University, VA and Assumption College, Worcester. His home parish is St. John Guardian of Our Lady, Clinton.

Deacon Charles Omolo will enter his final year of studies at St. John’s Seminary, Brighton. Born in 1983, he began his studies in Kenya and Tanzania at St. Gabriel’s Minor Seminary, and Spiritan Missionary Seminary. His home parish is St. Christopher, Worcester.