ROME Two weeks before thousands of priests gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica here for a jubilee for priests, Pope Francis celebrated a special jubilee for deacons on the weekend of May 27 to 29 telling them to be “a good and faithful servant to whom they are called to minister.”
Among the thousands of deacons in attendance was Deacon Alberto Totino of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Lake Hopatcong, who attended the three-day jubilee in celebration of the Year of Mercy. Deacon Totino, who was born in Italy and came to the United States when he was 16, visited the Eternal City with his family for the jubilee.
“To describe my experience spiritually in one word — uplifting. I was honored to be part of this beautiful ministry of the diaconate in the Catholic Church,” said Deacon Totino.
For the first two days of the celebration, Deacon Totino participated with the English-speaking deacons gathered in the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. During these two days, the deacons got a chance to share their experiences of formation, homiletic training and ministry assignment.
With his brother deacons, Deacon Totino said, “We all agreed that after being ordained permanent deacons, our lives changed for the better. We also became better husbands, fathers and more spiritual men.”
For Deacon Totino, these gatherings allowed him to share mutual positive experiences and many of the same difficulties deacons have in their professional careers, such as the sacrifices made to balance both lay and spiritual callings. He said, “We witness many injustices, but through our calling of evangelization and service, we are able to aid those in need.”
A cradle Catholic, Deacon Totino felt inspired to continue living his vocation. He said, “Attending this pilgrimage and being in the presence of so many of my brothers in Christ, I felt as though my ‘yes’ to the call to the diaconate had a purpose. Being in St. Peter’s Square, vested in my white alb and stole, which was a gift from the Holy Father, made me recall all the sacrifices my wife, my family and I made in order to reach this moment. I reminisced of the night classes that I attended while my wife was at home with our children, spending my weekends studying and all the other sacrifices that in the end made this moment worthwhile.”
Because Deacon Totino attended with his family, he felt blessed to share this experience, especially the Mass with Pope Francis on the Sunday for the Jubilee for Deacons, with his wife, Susan; two of his children, Pia Francesca and Gianpaolo; his son’s girlfriend Marta; his cousins Francesco and Laura and their son, Luca. Unfortunately, his oldest son, Antonio, and his wife, Allegra were unable to attend due to work but followed the events on EWTN.
Deacon Totino said, “My daughter, Pia Francesca, posted something on social media about her feelings. It’s special because I began my formation when she was 7 years old and now at 22, she was also able to experience this special day with me.”
Pia Francesca wrote: “Papà I can’t describe how proud I am of you. Today watching you serve Mass with Pope Francis and giving out Communion in the Vatican was amazing. I was so excited for you and, of course, to see Pope Francis. This was a once in a lifetime experience and I was happy I was there to celebrate with you. I love you and thank you for everything you do and I am so proud to call you my father. Auguri Papà.”
One of the highlights of the experience was the Mass to mark the occasion in which Pope Francis spoke directly to the deacons in his homily. Deacon Totino processed with his fellow brother deacons from all around the world and assisted in the celebration of the Mass alongside Pope Francis. He was also one of the 250 deacons who distributed Holy Communion to the pilgrims in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“This pilgrimage to Rome is something that I will never forget,” Deacon Totino said. “I am excited, overjoyed and blessed that God has called me to be his arms and his voice as a servant to his people here in the Diocese of Paterson.”