BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Seven men in the final stage before priesthood minister eagerly in parishes of the archdiocese following ordination to the transitional diaconate July 1.

The candidates’ enthusiasm muted to a somber reverence at the summer evening Mass where they were ordained to service as deacons. Assisted by over 50 priests and seminarians, Archbishop John F. Donoghue celebrated the Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Deacon Whitney Robichaux was master of ceremonies.

The new deacons are Rev. Mr. Kevin Hargaden, Dennis Juan, Michael Kingery, Fernando Molina-Restrepo, Adrian Pleus, Michael Sherliza and Jesús Trujillo-Luna. They are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood either in December or next June.

Having traveled from Spain for her brother’s ordination, Nelcy Molina-Restrepo gave the first reading. Sister Dawn Gear, GNSH, a friend of Rev. Mr. Kingery, gave the second reading while the Gospel was proclaimed by Rev. Mr. Fabio Sotelo-Pena.

“Today begins the last leg on their journey towards priestly ordination,” Archbishop Donoghue said in his homily. “We gather now to encourage their decision and to pray to Almighty God to bring to fulfillment the seed of servanthood which he has planted in them for their own salvation and for the advance of the Church.”

The archbishop described the virtues of humility and service needed for Christian success, yet noted that people often abuse power over others when placed in positions of authority.

“We see ourselves as beneficent rulers, but often we become tyrants--smug, self-satisfied and arrogant in our lofty self-satisfaction...When we look in the mirror and at the same time think upon the great humility of Jesus Christ, none of us can claim that we are without some evidence of these traits.”

“Today we rejoice that our brothers have heard the call of God...And we are confident they have chosen this path, not to rule over anyone, but rather to be ruled over by Christ’s command of service to the faithful,” he continued.

He said deacons must serve as ordained ministers of Scripture, as ordained ministers of the altar, leading people to the Eucharist, and as ministers of charity, caring for God’s people.

Vocations Director Father David Talley presented the candidates to Archbishop Donoghue for acceptance by him and the people. They then confirmed to the archbishop their commitment to lives of celibacy and service to the church. The men humbly prostrated themselves in the center aisle while the choir and congregation joined in singing the litany of the saints.

The archbishop laid hands on the heads of the candidates, said a prayer of consecration and presented them with the Book of the Gospels.

Family members approached the altar where they vested the men. As a flock honoring their shepherd, the men then knelt before their archbishop and hugged him.

Following the ordination, the transitional deacons spoke of their goals and the challenges they face in their journey toward priesthood.

“I feel so nervous but I’m so happy. I feel like I’ve finally reached what I’ve always wanted,” said Rev. Mr. Juan. When he moved from England to Colombia as a seminarian, he experienced loneliness and pain, times when he doubted his ability to become a priest and “times when I felt, am I gonna have the courage to go on?”

Now, he said, “I’m not a priest, but I feel I’ve reached my goal because I’ve totally given myself to God.”

Rev. Mr. Juan, 40, is serving a pastoral internship at Christ Our King and Savior Church in Greensboro where he works with the Hispanic community and has increased attendance from 40 to over 80 at the Spanish Mass.

Greensboro parishioner Bob Young said the bilingual deacon has “been in the forefront of trying to organize the Hispanics in our parish...He’s been at the forefront of trying to get them to attend Mass so that they’re not excluded.”

“He’s very easygoing, he gets along with everyone, young and old. In a quiet way without talking about it a lot, he’s a very holy man,” said Young.

Unfatigued by the summer heat, Rev. Mr. Pleus, 31, was excited and joyful.

“I feel a great sense of peace. There’s exhilaration...I’m just very happy, very excited about being a deacon. I’m very much excited...about serving the archdiocese for the rest of my life.”

The deacon, who is interning this summer at St. Joseph’s Church, Athens, earned a master’s degree in education at the University of Georgia before entering the seminary. He said he hopes to improve his preaching style in this last year before becoming a priest. He has been training in the past year in homiletics and has learned, “I’m not preaching to theologians so I shouldn’t get caught up in too many terms, the jargon. I think the best preaching is keeping things simple. You can preach effectively by preaching a couple of points...That’s what I’m trying to do.”

As a transitional deacon, Rev. Mr. Sherliza, 41, also hopes to improve his preaching as he gives homilies twice monthly in his internship at St. Anna’s Church, Monroe.

“I’m comfortable teaching, but preaching is different. It’s not talking to people’s minds, it’s talking to people’s souls. That’s a wonderful challenge, but it’s a lot of work,” he said. “I’m nervous when I get up in the pulpit because I love preaching.”

His mother, Lizzette, proudly recalled her son’s service as an altar boy, his childhood focus on God and his work in a prayer group and RCIA program at her parish of Sacred Heart Church, Griffin.

Maria Enoe-Restrepo of Colombia also showed a mother’s pride. She said in Spanish that her son, Fernando, 36, “is a very good person. He has a lot of talent working with children, the elderly and the sick. I feel very happy. Since his youth he always wanted to become (a priest). Now he makes the big step.”

Rev. Mr. Molina-Restrepo said, “I am very happy. I think the Lord was calling me to do this and I was just following the call. I see a wide road open to me. As I see that, I just ask the Lord to guide me.” The bilingual deacon is interning at Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City, where he is beginning a spiritual mentoring program for youth.

Rev. Mr. Hargaden, 26, a graduate of Georgia Tech and a native of Milledgeville, is also working with youth this summer at Holy Family Church, Marietta.

“One of the most challenging areas is working with the youth. They are hungry to learn about God, but at many times it can be difficult to reach them and to pass on the Gospel message to them,” he said.

Affirming his son’s calling to priesthood, John Hargaden said that he “has a very good, positive outlook. I think he’ll work out. He’s a people-person and that’s what you have to be. He’s a very stable and sensible fellow.”

Hargaden said his son’s experiences at the Georgia Tech Catholic Center “brought him closer to the priesthood. Both of my sons had good experiences there. Both of them were influenced by (campus minister) Father Mario (DiLella) very much. That was a very good program.”

Rev. Mr. Kingery, 36, has taught religion and sixth grade for five years at Christ the King School, Atlanta, and is the brother of Father Patrick Kingery of the archdiocese.

His sister Karen McConnell, a teacher at St. John Neumann Regional School, Lilburn, affirmed that “Michael will be a wonderful priest. He’s always loved children and...he’s a wonderful educator. He’s very involved with the Boy Scouts. He loves people.”

Rev. Mr. Kingery said he hopes to teach religion at a high school. “I enjoy watching the students learn and grow and challenging them. I think I also just really value and respect Catholic education and the values it imparts and the faith that it instills,” he said.

Rev. Mr. Trujillo-Luna, 30, said that he dedicated his life to serve God and people at his ordination. He will intern this summer at St. Bernadette Church, Cedartown, in Hispanic ministry and said that, as he has worked with both Hispanics and Anglos, he hopes to serve as a bridge between the two communities.

Rev. Mr. Kevin Hargaden

Age: 26

Birth Date: June 2, 1972.

Place of Birth: Milledgeville.

Parents: John and Mary Hargaden.

Siblings: Two brothers, one sister.

Education: Earned bachelor’s degree in math, 1994, from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta; earned master of arts degree in sacred Scripture with highest honor, 1998, and is completing master of divinity degree from St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa. Studied the Hmong language, summer 1995, at University of Wisconsin.

Work Experience: Served as building and grounds coordinator and as president for two years at Georgia Tech Catholic Center; worked as engineering intern for aircraft systems company.

Pastoral Internships: Holy Family Church, Marietta, summer 1998; St. Catherine of Siena Church, Kennesaw, summer 1996; Church of Good Shepherd, Cumming, summer 1997.

Rev. Mr. Dennis Juan

Age: 40

Birth Date: June 26, 1958.

Place of Birth: British Guiana, now Guyana.

Parents: Carmen and the late Fredrick Juan.

Siblings: Two brothers, two sisters.

Education: Earned licentiate in philosophy and theology, 1997, from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.

Work Experience: Managed bookstore and book warehouse for religious order while student in Bogotá and trained aspirants to the order to work in printing shop; worked two years as Morse code operator for British government.

Pastoral Internships: Christ Our King and Savior Church, Greensboro, August 1997-fall 1998, developing Hispanic ministry, teaching English classes and assisting with youth program, forming Hispanic committee, translating for recipients of free medical services at Good Samaritan Clinic and Minnie Boswell Hospital, Greensboro.

Rev. Mr. Michael Kingery

Age: 36

Birth Date: July 10, 1962.

Place of Birth: Atlanta.

Parents: John and Jolaine Kingery.

Siblings: Four sisters, two brothers.

Education: Earned bachelor’s degree in philosophy, 1986, St. John Vianney College Seminary, Miami; teaching certification for middle grades, 1989, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw; completing master of divinity degree from Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans.

Work Experience: Worked in sales for travel agency for a year and a half; taught sixth grade and religion for five years at Christ the King School, Atlanta; volunteered Boy Scout leader for 15 years.

Pastoral Internships: St. Joseph’s Church, Marietta, June-November, 1998; Served at St. Augustine Church, Covington, summer 1996; participated in chaplain training program in Emory University Health System, summer 1997.

Rev. Mr. Fernando Molina-Restrepo

Age: 36

Birth Date: Dec. 12, 1961.

Place of Birth: Anserma, Caldas, Colombia.

Parents: Luis Molina and Maria Enoe-Restrepo.

Siblings: Three brothers, four sisters.

Education: Studied economics for two years at Military University of Bogotá, Colombia; attended 1987-89 archdiocesan seminary of Monterey in Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; completed studies in philosophy at San José Archdiocesan Seminary, Bogotá, in 1990; earned master of divinity degree, 1998, and is completing master’s degree in religious education from St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa.

Work Experience: Worked in sales and as a personnel manager at a clothing factory; worked in radio communications for international petroleum company in Bogotá.

Pastoral Internships: Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City, summer 1998; Our Lady of the Americas Mission, Doraville, summer 1994.

Rev. Mr. Adrian Pleus

Age: 31

Birth Date: May 25, 1967.

Place of Birth: Plandome, N.Y.

Parents: Albert and Julie Pleus.

Siblings: One brother, one sister.

Education: Earned bachelor’s degree in history, 1990, from University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.; master’s degree in education from University of Georgia, Athens; master of divinity degree with honors from St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa., 1998.

Work Experience: Worked for a year after college for a real estate company; co-facilitated substance abuse support group for young adults as a student at UGA.

Pastoral Internships: St. Joseph’s Church, Athens, summer 1998; Latrobe Hospital, 1996-97; Christ the Divine Teacher School, Latrobe, spring 1998.

Rev. Mr. Michael Sherliza

Age: 41

Birth Date: Oct. 2, 1956.

Place of Birth: Attleboro, Mass.

Parents: Robert and Lizzette Sherliza.

Siblings: One brother, two sisters.

Education: Earned bachelor’s degree in philosophy, 1979, St. Alphonsus College, Suffield, Conn.; studied theology, 1979-80, Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary, Esopus, N.Y.; completing master of divinity degree at Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans.

Work Experience: Worked in trucking industry for eight years; worked for three years for Georgia Labor Department; spent a summer on assembly line at General Motors.

Pastoral Internships: St. Anna’s Church, Monroe, June-November 1998; Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City, summer 1996; Clinical Pastoral Education program with Emory University Health System, summer 1997.

Rev. Mr. Jesús Trujillo-Luna

Age: 30

Birth Date: April 30, 1968.

Place of Birth: Guadalupe, Huila, Colombia.

Parents: Lisandro Trujillo and María Dolores-Luna.

Siblings: Nine brothers, three sisters.

Education: Made religious profession for Society of St. Paul, Bogotá, Colombia, 1989; studied philosophy at Archdiocesan Seminary of Bogotá, 1989; earned degree in theology, 1997, from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá.

Work Experience: Worked as graphic editor and designer for Bishops Conference of Latin America.

Pastoral Internships: St. Bernadette Church, Cedartown, September 1997-December 1998, and St. Mary’s Church, Rome.