Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez to Ordain Five Men as Transitional Deacons for Service in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

The Mass with the Rite of Ordination will be streamed live via facebook.com/StCharlesSem/

Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, D. D., Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at Mass with the Rite of Ordination of Transitional Deacons from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Saturday, May 11, 2024
10:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Ordination to Transitional Diaconate is one of the final steps prior to Ordination to the Priesthood. Transitional Deacons serve in parishes for one year as they complete their studies along with other elements of the program of priestly formation.

The Rite of Ordination will take place during Mass following the Liturgy of the Word.

Those being ordained as Transitional Deacons are listed below in alphabetical order.

  • Robert T. Bollinger, 26, son of Dave and Karen Bollinger, is a native of Sellersville, Pennsylvania.
  • Chike Egbufoama, 42, son of Martin and Nneka Egbufoama, is a native of Nigeria.
  • Peter Nho Nguyen, 29, son of Peter Tam and Mary Thao Nguyen, is a native of Vietnam.
  • Edward Gibbons Town, 28, son of David and Kathryn Town, is a native of Chalfont, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Huntingtown, Maryland.  
  • Brother Richard Scott Withers, 69, son of Robert Partrick Withers and Ita (Elaine) Astor. He is a native of San Fernando Valley in California. He grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the first diocesan hermit in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and made his vows as a hermit in 2001.

Thanks to the generous support of the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, the Mass will be streamed live via the Archdiocesan Vimeo Channel (https://vimeo.com/event/2470138) and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s Facebook page (facebook.com/StCharlesSem/) beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Please contact Daniel Kearns with any technical concerns regarding the live stream coverage at 215-888-0305 (cell).

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Editor’s Note: Please contact the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Communications at [email protected] to request  official photographs of those being ordained to the Transitional Diaconate.

Background on Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary

Founded in 1832, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary has been forming men for priestly service in the Catholic Church for more than 191 years. With a current enrollment of 143 seminarians, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary is one of the largest seminaries in the country. In this very historic year, the seminary is preparing to relocate to Lower Gwynedd Township. Its new campus includes the construction of several new chapels, a college seminary dorm building, and a student life center which will consist of a refectory, classrooms, library, and administrative offices. Its inauguration is scheduled for August 2024. For more information on Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, call 610-667-3394 or visit www.scs.edu, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Instagram or YouTube.

About the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia 

The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia (CFGP) is an independent, nonprofit community foundation committed to growing philanthropy according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Grounded in the principles of faith and service, CFGP meets the diverse needs of donors and Catholic institutions through charitable fund management and development consulting. Our services ensure an investment in the future of our faith. To learn more about CFGP, please visit https://thecfgp.org/.

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Contact:
Kenneth A. Gavin
Chief Communications Officer
215-587-3747 (office)