Deacon Lucas Folan, a seminarian from the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey, studying in Rome, called his ordination to the diaconate on Oct. 2, alongside 15 other seminarians from the United States, a “gift of God’s love” that will help him “draw people to God.” Deacon Folan’s ordination as a temporary deacon, held at the Altar of St. Peter’s Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, marks his last step before being ordained to the diocesan priesthood next year.
At 26, Deacon Folan, whose home parish is Notre Dame of Mount Carmel in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, was ordained by Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt of the Diocese of Grand Island, Neb. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese was one of the concelebrants, along with priests from the diocese. Additionally, he assisted in vesting Deacon Folan in his stole and dalmatic during the Rite of Ordination at the Mass, which was livestreamed on EWTN.
Deacon Folan recently started his fourth year of theology studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Bishop Sweeney participated in his ordination as part of a diocesan pilgrimage he was leading to Assisi and Rome, from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4 in observance of the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, which the Universal Church is celebrating.
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“I feel at peace. My ordination is a gift of God’s love. I am called to draw people to God. My duties as a deacon include preaching. However, my ordination is about transforming my soul so everything I do becomes a diaconal activity,” Deacon Folan said. “I’m happy that Bishop Sweeney was there to participate in the Mass and vest me.”
Deacon Folan comes from an Irish-Hispanic family, and his fluent in Spanish. He has assisted with Spanish Masses at some parishes he served for summer assignments, including Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Boonton, N.J., and Our Lady of Victories/Our Lady of Lourdes in Paterson, N.J. His mother, Cristina Folan, is Colombian and serves as Notre Dame’s director of communications and evangelization.
Cristina Folan, her husband, Ken, and their two other children, Mitchell and Teresa, were among the 1,200 friends and family members of the 16 deacons who attended the ordination Mass.
On social media, Bishop Sweeney called Deacon Lucas’ ordination Mass in St. Peter’s a “beautiful and powerful, prayerful experience.”
“God bless our diocesan seminarian, Deacon Lucas,” Bishop Sweeney said.
The next day, Oct. 3, Bishop Sweeney was the main celebrant of a Mass at St. Mary Major in Rome, where Deacon Lucas first preached as a deacon. On social media, the bishop posted, “He did a wonderful job.”
Deacon Folan has been involved in service in the seminary in Rome. During his first academic year there, he served lunch once a week to visitors at a refugee center located in a Jesuit church. This year, like last year, he is part of a five-person team that serves as chaplains to the study abroad program of St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y.
Before heading to Rome in 2023, Deacon Folan completed studies in philosophy and pre-theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University in South Orange.
Last summer, Deacon Lucas served at Holy Spirit Parish in Pequannock, N.J. During his summer assignment, he led a few pastoral initiatives, including a book club and spiritual reflections.
Father Cesar Jaramillo, the current pastor of the parish, concelebrated the ordination Mass of the deacon and the Mass of Thanksgiving, at which Deacon Lucas preached for the first time.
On social media, Father Jaramillo called Deacon Lucas’ ordination “a joyful and momentous step on his journey to the priesthood.” The priest recalled his own ordination to the diaconate nine years ago under the dome of St. Peter’s. He said he was glad to represent Holy Spirit Parish and School, conveying the parishioners’ love and support for Deacon Lucas.
“Deacon Lucas already has the heart of Christ the Servant, and through his preaching and service at the altar, he will continue to cultivate the virtues necessary for a fruitful ministry,” Father Jaramillo said. “Let us keep Deacon Lucas and his classmates in our prayers as they prepare for ordination to the priesthood, and let us continue to pray for more young men to answer the call to give their lives in service to Christ and to his Church.”
Father Cesar Jaramillo contributed to this article.
