WILMINGTON, DE — In a significant step toward priesthood, Mr. Dennis Stameza will be ordained to the transitional diaconate in a ceremony officiated by the Most Reverend William E. Koenig. The event is set to take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at St. John the Beloved Church in Wilmington, Delaware, with live streaming available on the parish’s YouTube channel.
Mr. Stameza, 32, hails from the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, where he began his educational journey before advancing to priestly formation. His studies have taken him from local institutions in Tanzania to graduate studies at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the past years, Stameza has served in various capacities within the diocese, including ministry assignments at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and St. John the Beloved Parish.
Expressing readiness and enthusiasm for his upcoming ordination, Stameza shared his commitment to preaching the Gospel and serving the Diocese of Wilmington. “I feel great and am ready for my ordination to diaconate ministry,” he said.
The diaconate, a role with its roots in the earliest days of the Church, serves as a bridge for seminarians on their path to priesthood. Derived from the Greek word diakonia, meaning “to serve,” the diaconate embodies the Church’s call to service. There are two paths within the order: the permanent diaconate, for those who serve indefinitely, and the transitional diaconate, for candidates like Stameza who are preparing for priestly ordination.
With an ordination to the Priesthood planned for 2025, Mr. Stameza’s ordination as a transitional deacon marks a pivotal moment in his spiritual and vocational journey. This event not only represents a personal milestone for Stameza but also highlights the ongoing tradition and vitality of clerical service within the Catholic Church.
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