Joseph C. Cavallo, Jr. was ordained a deacon June 22 at St. Joseph’s Church in Marietta.

Archbishop Thomas Donnellan conferred the order upon the 25-year-old Marietta resident. Rev. Mr. Cavallo is a student for the priesthood here in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. He is currently finishing his last year of post graduate theology work at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana.

The ordination ceremony followed the most recent text approved by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops committee on the Liturgy. The new ritual mentions that the ordination should be celebrated at a time when a large number of the faithful can attend.

Commenting on this Father Jerry Hardy, who assisted at the ordination, said “Joe thought the diaconate celebration would have a strong witness value in his own home parish and I think he was right. The people were impressed with the fact that this man was one of their own. He has been pretty well known in the parish and I think it meant a lot to his family and fellow parishioners to share in the celebration.”

Rev. Mr. Cavallo returned to St. Meinrad where he will take a 6-week summer session in theology. As of Aug. 1, he will receive an assignment to a parish in the archdiocese where he will serve as an active deacon for the remainder of the summer.