BY PAULA DAY

Daniel Toof took a step toward priesthood in the Church with his ordination as a transitional deacon May 5.

Bishop W. Thomas Larkin presided at the ordination liturgy in St. Peter’s Church, LaGrange. It was one of several occasions in which the retired bishop of St. Petersburg, Fla. has been a “pinch hitter” at the last moment for an indisposed Atlanta ordinary. Archbishop John F. Donoghue had been hospitalized earlier that week suffering from bronchitis.

Father John Kieran, pastor of St. Peter’s, and Father Vincent Malatesta, SJ, Toof’s spiritual advisor, assisted Bishop Larkin. Twenty priests of the archdiocese and guests from several suburban Atlanta congregations joined St. Peter’s Catholics for the first ordination in the parish in its 59-year history.

Early twilight filtered through the tall, clear-pane windows from six sides of the octagonal church as the traffic of downtown moved in apparent silence outside. Young and old, children, college students, families, permanent deacons, seminarians and women Religious filled the pews for the 7 p.m. Mass.

Richard and Beryl Toof, his parents, came from Columbus, Neb., for the celebration. Friends from Holy Family, Marietta, St. Jude the apostle, Sandy Springs, and Sts. Peter and Paul parish in Decatur were among the visitors.

“Dan gets his religion from his mother,” said Richard Toof, who himself is a Presbyterian. “She’s very spiritual and active in her church.”

Mrs. Toof believes Dan has wanted to be a priest since an early age. She recalled as a very young child his saying, “I’m going to be a ‘fahzer' so I can pray for you.” Both agreed Toof was a “serious young man. He had fun, but he was quiet and thoughtful.”

“I think Dan has done some searching in his life,” his father observed. “We as parents have seen that. If he has found happiness and contentment, then, of course, we are happy and contented, too.”

“I’m elated,” Mrs. Toof added. “You pray for things like this. I pray he’ll make a good priest.”

In his homily, Bishop Larkin spoke of the institution of the diaconate as a work of the Holy Spirit because the early Church saw the need for men who would serve at the altar and in the community. He prayed that the candidate would be a role model and urged everyone to “sustain him by your prayers and ask the Lord to bless his ministry abundantly.”

In the ordination ritual the 39-year-old Toof solemnly pronounced his commitment to celibacy and promised obedience to his bishop. Then as he lay prostrate before the altar, the choir led the congregation in the Litany of the Saints, invoking all who had gone before to intercede for those present in St. Peter’s Church.

During the prayer of consecration Bishop Larkin laid his hands on the candidate, who knelt. Then Father Kieran and Father Malatesta vested him with the stole and dalmatic. Bishop Larkin presented the Book of the Gospels, a sign of the deacon’s privilege to proclaim the Gospel during the eucharistic celebration. At the close of the Mass, Father Kieran welcomed Rev. Mr. Toof to the “rank of clergy” as his parents watched proudly and the congregation stood and applauded.

St. Peter’s parishioner Jane Dunn has special regard for the young man who has assisted in the LaGrange parish. In his ministry he was a support to her and her husband, Richard, who has terminal cancer.

“He’s our special friend,” Mrs. Dunn said. “He comforted us during my husband’s illness – almost on a daily basis. He’s like our brother.”

Another parishioner who has rubbed elbows with Toof is Hugh O’Kane, president of the parish council.

“He’s a great, caring person, a good listener,” O’Kane observed. “He knows how to relax and be comfortable. He gets along with everyone, older people and kids. He has a marvelous touch with people. He listens and then interacts.

“He’ll make an excellent priest – won’t be wishy-washy. He has strong beliefs and will stand up for them.”

Rev. Mr. Toof will study at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University this summer and minister at St. Theresa’s Church in Douglasville. During the fall quarter he will study at Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C. A December ordination to the priesthood is planned.