By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
LAKE CHARLES — Immense joy filled the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception as Hunter Thomas LaRocca was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon on Saturday, March 29, 2025, by His Excellency Bishop Glen John Provost.
To mark the very special event during this Jubilee Year of Hope, the Cathedral bells tolled for 15 minutes leading up to the grand entrance of seminarians, deacons, and priests from the Diocese of Lake Charles as well as Notre Dame Seminary.
Glen John Provost outside the Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception following the Rite of Ordination
to the Diaconate on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
It was a fitting occasion as the ordination took place on the weekend of Laetare Sunday, a time of joyful celebration within the penitential season of Lent. Laetare is Latin for “Rejoice.”
This break in the otherwise somber tone of Lent brought about an exuberant hope in anticipation of Easter. There is also great anticipation as Deacon LaRocca advances closer to the priesthood. He will spend his Diaconate Internship at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
When asked what he was looking most forward to during his time as a transitional deacon, without hesitation Hunter exclaimed, “Baptisms!”
Transitional deacons become more involved in service as they assist the priest with sacraments. Their duties may include presiding over funerals, witnessing weddings, and performing baptisms. They will also begin to preach homilies.
the end of the pew alongside his aunt, Jessica LaRocca;
his grandmother, Betty LaRocca; and his mother and stepfather,
Kara and Kurt Smith, at the beginning of his Rite of Ordination
to the Diaconate on Saturday, March 29, in the Cathedral
of the Immaculate Conception.
LaRocca was beaming as he stood in the pew alongside his mother and stepfather, Kurt and Kara Smith; his grandmother, Betty LaRocca, and his aunt, Jessica LaRocca. Several other relatives also were in attendance to show their support.
A parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Lake Charles, LaRocca now transitions to the clerical state, meaning he becomes a member of the clergy. With that, comes three promises made for the first time: obedience to the bishop, celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven, and an obligation to pray daily the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the “Breviary.”
As Bishop Provost shared in his homily, “Ordination is about being set apart, but set apart for a purpose which is not of this world but very much lived in the world of people who will be served.”
He went on to say, “Deacons must hold ‘fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience’ (I Timothy 3:9). Shouldn’t we all be doing this? Of course, but a deacon is set aside, ordained, to lead by example, not just words, although he must preach, but by deeds. His very person must exude the life of service.”
With encouragement as he directed his comments to Deacon LaRocca, Bishop Provost said, “ ‘[Holding] fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience’ is the Lord’s admonition to you on this day of your ordination. Keep that mystery of faith close to your heart. Preach it faithfully by word and example. Grow in intimacy with the Lord Jesus who is our only true friend. Maintain a clear conscience focused on our eternal goal. Only in these ways will you live the life of service to which the Master of the Harvest is calling you. May these qualities resound to the praise of God and the benefit of those you serve.”
Catholic Church assists Hunter LaRocca with vesting
after he was ordained a deacon.
After the homily, LaRocca made a promise to be consecrated for the ministry of the Church and to conform his life to the example of Christ, who came to serve and not be served.
As the congregation sang the Litany of Supplication (also known as the Litany of Saints), LaRocca prostrated himself before the altar. Then he knelt before Bishop Provost who laid hands on him and prayed the Prayer of Ordination over him.
The newly ordained deacon was vested by Deacon Paul Gregory of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. The stole is a sign of the deacon’s office of service, and the dalmatic is the outer garment used in liturgy.
Following the Sign of Peace with his fellow deacons, LaRocca took his seat at the right hand of Bishop Provost as the Mass continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
During a reception that followed in the Ave Maria Hall, Seminarians for the Diocese of Lake Charles gathered to give their friend, and now deacon, a desktop crucifix. It would be the first religious item LaRocca would bless as a newly ordained deacon.
LaRocca also spent most of the nearly two-hour reception blessing individuals, couples, and families as they knelt before him.
As the crowd dwindled to a handful of relatives, LaRocca shared what was on his heart on such a momentous day: “What a gift the Lord has given me to live out this life of service to His Church. I pray that He may give me the grace to do this faithfully and well for the Kingdom of God.”
LaRocca assisted at his first Mass as Deacon on Laetare Sunday, March 30, at 9:30 a.m. in the Cathedral with Very Reverend Ruben J. Buller, Vicar General and Pastor. Please keep Deacon LaRocca in your prayers as he continues his path to the priesthood.
Deacon Hunter LaRocca is joined by his fellow seminarians and Rev. Michael Caraway, Director of Vocations (far right), during a reception that followed LaRocca's diaconate ordination on Saturday, March 29, in the Ave Maria Hall. Seminarians for the Diocese of Lake Charles gathered to give their friend, and now deacon, a desktop crucifix. It would be the first religious item LaRocca would bless as a newly ordained deacon.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS ON THE DIOCESAN FACEBOOK PAGE
