Deacon Macdonald said being ordained by the cardinal gave him great inspiration to advance in his ministries in the diaconate and toward the priesthood.

"I really look forward to serving the Church as a deacon: preaching, baptizing, and caring for the poor and the weak," Deacon Macdonald said.

Deacon Macdonald will serve the parishioners of St. Paul Church in Cambridge for the summer, where the pastor Father Michael Drea welcomes his help and pastoral service.

"It is a great joy to welcome a young man like Deacon Tom Macdonald here to St. Paul's and really to support him in his pastoral formation. The parish is honored to be a part of that: supporting him with our prayers and our presence here. We are happy to continue the tradition of welcoming young men -- seminarians and deacons -- to St. Paul's to be helpful in their formation," Father Drea said.

Deacon Macdonald will return to Rome in the fall to complete his studies. He is scheduled to be ordained with the rest of his seminary class in Boston next May.

"It is a wonderful grace to be ordained a deacon -- to have made the promises of obedience, prayer, and celibacy in preparation for my priestly ministry," he said.