Take care of ‘our treasures, our people,’ Bishop tells new deacon

More than 8,000 miles from New Jersey, friends and family had risen before 4 a.m. to watch Jan Armelson Magcawas ordained to the Order of Deacon at St. Joseph Church, North Plainfield.

As the ordination Mass began Feb. 22, Bishop James F. Checchio welcomed all the family and friends who were watching the ordination via livestream in the Philippines. The Bishop was the main celebrant of the Mass at which the seminarian took his next step toward priesthood.

Bishop Checchio began his homily by remembering the witness of St. Lawrence, a deacon in Rome in the third century, who was asked by the Emperor to produce the riches of the Church. Lawrence appeared with the poor, the lonely, and the lame of the city and announced that these were the true treasures of the Church. He was martyred for that proclamation.

The Bishop said that belief is as true today as it was eighteen hundred years ago. “The real treasure of the Church is the holy life of the faithful Christian, the person sitting next to you, the person you see in the mirror.”

Addressing the candidate directly, Bishop Checchio said, “As you take on the role of Deacon today you will be charged with taking care of our treasures, our people. You will be asked as Jesus asked Peter in our Gospel today, feed my sheep.

“You will give your life as Jesus did, as Lawrence did, as so many holy examples of deacons have done.

“Jan, we are so grateful to you today, to your family, your mother and father, your sister and brothers, all the priests and all who have helped prepare you for this day. Stay close to your brother deacons and priests of our diocese. Stay close to the faithful entrusted to your care; in turn they will nourish you.”

Concelebrants included Father Jonathan S. Toborowsky, vicar general; Father Mauricio Tabera-Vasquez, pastor of St. Joseph; Msgr. John N. Fell, diocesan episcopal vicar for clergy, which includes seminarians; Father Timothy A. Christy, rector, Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen; Father Larrydom Magdasoc who served as Deacon Magcawas' vesting priest, and priests of the Diocese. In addition, deacons from the Diocese were present to support and welcome their new brother deacon.

At the Offertory of the Mass, the gifts were carried to the altar by Dr. Jude Verzosa and Therese Zapanta-Verzosa, longtime friends of Deacon Magcawas. Dr. Verosa said that even with the long flight from Washington state, where they live, “We wouldn’t miss his ordination for anything.” Both agreed that they were honored to be part of the ordination Mass.

The Verzosas are the founders of a nonprofit organization, Empower Philippines, which serves the poorest of the poor. Therese Verzosa explained that they had previously hosted a podcast, Coffee Conversations, where they interviewed a series of Catholic writers and Church leaders. One of their guests was Scott Hahn, a U.S. Catholic theologian. Deacon Magcawas contacted them to express his gratitude for that particular interview, and they began their friendship through texts and phone calls.

When the couple returned to the Philippines for the funeral of Dr. Verzosa’s mother, Deacon Magcawas made an eight-hour round trip from his home to be with them.

“That is an example of the type of priest he will be,” Therese Verzosa said.

Deacon Magcawas was born in Marilao, Philippines, the son of Crisanto and Armelita Magcawas. He has a sister and two brothers. His mother died in 2015, and he credits her relationship with God as inspiring his own spiritual life and as a starting point in his discernment of a vocation.

Later his former pastor, Rev. Manny Lucero, and a professor in the seminary, Rev. Richard Hernandez, proved to be examples of what it means to be a priest, and the new deacon said both exuded their joy in their priestly life.

Deacon Magcawas received degrees in sacred theology and philosophy from St. Francis Seminary in Lipa City, where he was raised. He had pastoral assignments while in the seminary in the Philippines, and during his pastoral year in the Diocese of Metuchen, he has been assigned to the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi and St Joseph Parish.

Before the final blessing Father Tabera-Vasquez thanked Bishop Checchio for assigning Deacon Magcawas to St. Joseph’s.

“He has been a blessing to the parish and the people he has touched during his time with us,” the pastor said.