November 6, 2019 — On October 19, Midwest Jesuit Joshua Peters, SJ, along with four other Jesuits, was ordained to the diaconate by the Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, SJ, Bishop of Oakland, at Saint Mary’s College Chapel in Moraga, California.

Peters and the other Jesuit deacons are currently studying theology at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California.

For Jesuits in formation, ordination to the diaconate is the final step in preparation for priestly ordination in the Society of Jesus. Deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach and teach in the name of the church. As ministers of sacraments, they baptize, witness marriages and conduct wake and funeral services.

As a deacon, Peters will continue his studies and be assigned to a parish until next summer when he will be ordained to the priesthood and receive his first missions as a Jesuit priest.