Newly-ordained Deacon Patrick Lynch, MIC, with his ordaining bishop, the Most Rev. William D. Byrne, Bishop of Springfield, Massachusetts,
The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary are pleased to announce that Brother Patrick Lynch, MIC, was ordained to the transitional diaconate, the last step, God willing, on his vocational journey to the priesthood.

The ordination took place on Saturday, 6 September 2025, at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

The Most Rev. William D. Byrne, Bishop of Springfield, Massachusetts, celebrated the Mass and conferred the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Men studying for the priesthood are ordained as transitional deacons prior to beginning their final period of study before ordination to the priesthood. Deacons are able to preach at Mass, baptize, celebrate weddings, and bring Viaticum to the dying, all while undergoing additional pastoral, liturgical, and educational preparation.

Deacon Patrick will return soon to the Divine Mercy Apostolate and continue his service with Fr Alexander Pumphrey, MIC, and Fr Lukasz Mazurek, MIC.

Bishop Byrne delivers the homily in the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy.

Ministry of charity and service
In his homily, Bishop Byrne stressed the ministry of service associated with the diaconate.

“Deacon Patrick will carry out a ministry of charity in the name of the whole Church,” he said. “In all his duties, he will act with the help of God, in such a way as one who did not come to be served, but to serve.

“The Lord has given you the example. That just as He Himself has done, so also you must do. Like Jesus, who appeared in the midst of the disciples, your job is to do the will of God in charity from the heart.

“To serve others with joy — therein lies the key. To serve with love, to serve with kindness — this is what the world is starving for. This is what changes and transforms hearts.

“You are blessed to come from a big family, rooted in faith. As a minister of the Church, you will be a public witness. You will be a signpost to the world. And you must show yourself without blemish and beyond reproach before God and others. Your life must show to the world that we are all called to be fishers of men.

“So do not allow yourself to be turned away from the hope of the Gospel. There will be days when it will be challenging. There’ll be days when it’s harder to pray. But on those days you must even pray more. And hold fast to the great mystery of faith with a clear conscience expressed by your actions and the Word of God, which your lips will now proclaim, the very words of the holy Gospel, so that the Christian people, brought to life by the Spirit, may become a pure offering acceptable to God. And so that you yourself some day may go out to meet the Lord on the Last Day and be able to hear Him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord!'”

Brother Patrick lies prostrate before the altar, expressing his total submission to God, as the Litany of Supplication is sung, invoking the intercession of God and all the Saints.
Through the laying on of hands by the bishop and the Prayer of Ordination, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred on the candidate.
Father Matthew Tomeny, MIC, Rector of the National Shrine, vested Deacon Patrick with the stole and dalmatic, signs of the Office of Deacon. Deacon Patrick’s parents, Griff and Denise, look on.
Deacon Patrick gathers with his proud parents, siblings, and relatives — and St. Faustina in the background!

Power of Prayer — and an Invitation
At a reception and luncheon following Mass in the St Faustina Center, Deacon Patrick offered thanks and reflections.

“There are so many people present whom I have been blessed to know and have played an important part in my vocation,” he said. “It really is just a witness of love for me from all of you.

“To my parents, Griff and Denise, and all my siblings, I love you all so much, and I’m just so happy that you can be here today.

“Next, I want to thank my Marian brothers. I am just so very blessed to be part of this community. It’s a really good group of guys, who do some awesome work for the Lord.

Chrystyna and David Van Sise visit with Fr Chris Alar, MIC, following Mass.

“And I have to point out Mr David Van Sise. I wouldn’t be here today without him, because I went to high school with his son Gregor. Mr Van Sise invited me to make a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. This is such a beautiful place, and God’s grace is just so abundant here. And that’s what kind of started my interest in wanting to be a Marian. So thank you, Mr Van Sise. It just shows how powerful one invitation can be. You never know where it leads.”

Lastly, Deacon Patrick thanked his spiritual director, Fr Thomas Nau, from the diocese of Steubenville, Ohio, “for keeping me on the straight and narrow.” He also thanked Fr Daniel Firmin, the pastor of his home parish, St. James the Less in Savannah, Georgia.

Gratitude
“The people of that parish have prayed for me by name every Sunday for six or seven years now,” Deacon Patrick said. “Thank you so much for having prayed for me all these years.”

“I am also so grateful for all of those who have shown me by their example what it means to serve others with love,” Deacon Patrick concluded. “In a particular way, I want to thank our Marian Helpers, whose prayers and generosity were a constant support during my formation. May God reward you for all you do for us.”

Contact / location
Events / calendar

First Fridays

 

Celebration of the Great Hour of Mercy:

2:00 pm Worship and Enthronement of Merciful Jesus

2:15 pm Holy Mass (during the Holy Mass it is possible to confess)

3:00 pm Hour of Mercy (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)

3:30 pm Final Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and ...

... tea/coffee meeting in Windsor Hall (bring & share)

 Church of Our Lady Mother of the Church

2 Windsor Road
Ealing, London W5 5PD

2 minute walk from Ealing Broadway station

First Saturdays

First Saturday of each Month:

A Day of Prayer With Mary to the Divine Mercy:

1:30 pm Opening Hymn & Holy Rosary

2:15 pm Holy Mass

3:00 pm Hour of Mercy (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)

4:00 pm Final Benediction & Worship

 Divine Mercy Apostolate
Marian Fathers
1 Courtfield Gardens
West Ealing, London W13 0EY
tel. 02089980925

Close to West Ealing and Ealing Broadway stations