VENTNOR – The pews of Saint James Church were filled this morning as Nickolas Bruno Naticchione was ordained to the Order of Deacon.
“Rome has its new Bishop. Camden has its new transitional deacon,” said Bishop Joseph A. Williams, referencing Pope Leo XIV, who was elected to the pontificate only two days before.
His words were greeted by hearty applause from those in attendance, which included Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan; Bishop James Massa, rector of Saint Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers, N.Y.; Father James Worth, Deacon Naticchione’s uncle; dozens of concelebrating priests; deacons; religious; seminary formators and classmates; the Knights of Columbus; Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre; family, and friends.
PHOTO GALLERY: Diaconate Ordination of Nickolas Naticchione
LIVESTREAM VIDEO REPLAY: Transitional Diaconate Ordination
During the Ordination Mass, Deacon Naticchione, 25, publicly pledged to fulfill his new responsibilities, promising to “discharge with humble charity the Office of the Diaconate, so as to assist the priestly Order and to benefit the Christian people … to hold fast to the mystery of faith … keep the commitment of celibacy … and conform [his] way of life always to the example of Christ,”
Bishop Williams handed the young man the Book of the Gospels, the “Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become.”
In his homily, Bishop Williams echoed the liturgy’s first reading of Jeremiah, when the young prophet tells the Lord that he does “know not how to speak; I am too young.” Bishop Williams told Deacon Naticchione that this attitude, this “expression of … smallness before the grandeur of the prophetic call” of God, would serve his own diaconate ministry well.
“You will turn to God and His grace,” becoming a messenger of God’s word by becoming a servant of His word,” the Bishop said.
Noting that the “Catholic Church is in desperate need of the preaching of Stephen and Philip [deacons of the early Church] in our day,” with a flock that “want to be fed by God’s Word,” he called on Deacon Naticchione to walk with all, especially families, and the poor and suffering.
In imitation of Philip and Stephen, with a “visage like an angel [who] spoke with such wisdom and spirit that he could not be refuted, Bishop Williams said the young deacon will share “a Word that convinces, a Word that converts.”
People whom Deacon Naticchione encounters will leave his presence exclaiming that “I hear God’s Word through this young man, and my heart is burning as I approach the altar of God,” Bishop Williams said.
He went on to quote from the new pope’s first homily. “Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power or pleasure.
“These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or, at best, tolerated and pitied. Yet precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed.”
After Mass, family, classmates and formators of Deacon Naticchione recalled a man whose heart for the Lord was evident in his first years.
Father Worth, pastor of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Maplewood, said his nephew’s ordination day was proof of a faith life nurtured in the home. “His family is very involved with the Church. His parents are daily communicants; his father is a Knight of Columbus. When my sister [Renea] and I were growing up, we’d clean the Church, sing in the choir.”
“This is what happens when a young man is given an incredible selfless example … he ends up wanting to be in a profession that’s other-centered. He’s always had that passion and zeal for helping others.”
Deacon Naticchione’s mother, Renea, said she was filled with joy to see her son take this next step on the path to the priesthood. “He’s meant to serve the people of God.”
“He leads by example, by spreading the word of God by action, and by who he is. I have complete joy for him to share his gifts, talents and love of Jesus Christ with the world.”
Dominick Angiolillo, Deacon Naticchione’s classmate from Saint Joseph’s Seminary, noted his friend’s “genuine love for the Church and God’s people. … He is going to bring the heart of Christ to all he encounters.”
Father James King, pastor of the Parish of Saint John Neumann in North Cape May, vested Deacon Naticchione with his new stole and dalmatic. Father King remembered first meeting him in 2014 at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon.
“He was a freshman, and I was the newly-assigned Director of Catholic Identity,” Father King explained. “When I met him, he had this sense of wanting to serve the Church, and he was my right-hand altar server, was involved in the liturgy club, and was a presence with everything liturgical and spiritual at the school,” he continued.
“What I’ve seen over the years is his tremendous growth in depth and fervor, to share his gift of music, his love of God, his love of the people of God and his love of the liturgy,” Father King said.
Father Adam Cichoski, director of vocations for the Diocese of Camden, said he believes the Diocese will see great gifts from Rev. Mr. Naticchione. “He’s a man who knows the Word, loves the Word and acts on the Word. Nick has had a great encounter with Christ over the years, and has grown in imitating Him.”
Troy Naticchione, an uncle of the new deacon, reflected, “I would see him perform Mass on the ottoman at his house at the age of 5. … His faith is so strong; he’s going to bring many to the Church.”
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