It was standing room only at St John XXIII Parish, Glenwood-Stanhope Gardens for Menard Gaspard’s ordination to the diaconate in front of his home parish.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, ordained Menard Gaspi to the transitional diaconate in front of his family and friends from around the diocese, together with a convocation of clergy, seminarians from the Holy Spirit Seminary in Harris Park and the priest who baptised him, Fr Nards Mercene from the Diocese of Wollongong.
Deacon Menard Gaspi lies prostrate in front of the altar during his ordination to the diaconate at St John XXIII Parish, Glenwood-Stanhope Gardens on Saturday 11 May 2024. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
Bishop Vincent said: “His ordination gives us much hope, even if we are surrounded by challenges of all kinds.”
Deacon Menard was ordained to participate in his own way in the three-fold ministry of the Bishop: Word, Sacrament, and Charity.
In his thank you address, he proclaimed: “Mum and Dad – see I told you to wait, it was coming!” His humour was met with shared laughter.
Deacon Menard Gaspi speaks following his ordination to the diaconate at St John XXIII Parish, Glenwood-Stanhope Gardens on Saturday 11 May 2024. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
He then thanked the Lord: “He knew how to inform me and test my patience.” He also expressed his gratitude to everyone who came, including his family — all 17 people and that’s not counting extended family — who he described as “his foundation and bedrock”.
It was the first time the ordination of a deacon has taken place at St John XXIII Parish and Fr Paul Marshall, the rector at Holy Spirit Seminary, was present to vouch for Menard as a worthy candidate.
Fr Paul said that the three tenets of the Synod — listening, walking together, and witness — also mark each seminarian’s path toward the priesthood.
St John XXIII Parish marked and celebrated Deacon Menard’s ordination with a shared meal in the school hall. He was then treated to a rousing rendition of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” led by Bishop Vincent, followed by a cake cutting.
Deacon Menard Gaspi celebrates with his parents following his ordination to the diaconate at St John XXIII Parish, Glenwood-Stanhope Gardens on Saturday 11 May 2024. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
“We’re called by the Synod to really listen, instead of judging” — Fr Paul Marshall
A welcome homecoming
Some, after discovering the call, act on it right away. Deacon Menard’s vocation journey has been a considered one, beginning in 2005.
“My last year of high school I had a profound experience of the love of God and the joy of the Gospel … In front of the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, offering his heart to me, I chose to give my heart to Him and His people, the Church,” Menard previously told Catholic Outlook.
Deacon Menard has had experience with three seminaries and has spent time in the Philippines as a missionary, serving others and sharing the Gospel.
Now aged 36, Deacon Menard arrived at St John XXIII in February 2024 after a year at Sacred Heart Parish, Luddenham-Warragamba.
Deacon Menard Gaspi during his ordination to the diaconate at St John XXIII Parish, Glenwood-Stanhope Gardens on Saturday 11 May 2024. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
“It’s great to have him back [home],” his proud older brother Renan Gaspi said, his eyes full of admiration. “He was missed.”
Renan commended his brother’s patience and perseverance in getting to this point in his journey of faith and service, adding it was clearly what he’d been called to do.
“I think he has that special connection with the people, especially with the youth” — Renan Gaspi
‘He’s very cool’: Could Matthan Estaca be his biggest fan?
Deacon Menard found himself engulfed by the love of God and the congregation on his special day.
Catholic Outlook lost count of the number of people who lined up to hug, kiss, and request photographs with him after the ordination Mass.
But what made 11-year-old Matthan Estaca stand out from the crowd is what he held in his hands: a pen and notepad.
Matthen Estaca, 11, was over the moon to get the autograph of Deacon Menard Gaspi, who he really looks up to. Photo: Isabell Petrinic/Diocese of Parramatta
You see, Matthan had lined up to get Deacon Menard’s signature because he was collecting autographs from clergymen.
“He’s very cool,” Matthan Estaca told Catholic Outlook.
Asked why he wanted the autographs of bishops, priests, and deacons, Matthan smiled and said: “They’re good people.”
He added that maybe one day he would become a priest.
It’s a hopeful sign that the search for Jesus Christ and the role of the priesthood continues to be attractive to young men, and that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in the Diocese of Parramatta.
Rewatch the joyful ordination of Menard Gaspi to the diaconate on the Diocesan YouTube channel.
View images from Menard’s ordination here or below:
