SEMINARIAN OLIVER Coughlin was ordained a transitional deacon in the Diocese of Orange by Bishop Kevin Vann during a ceremony at Christ Cathedral on Saturday, Dec. 14.
DEACON OLIVER COUGHLIN IS PICTURED WITH FR. ANGELOS SEBASTIAN, BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN, BISHOP KEVIN VANN, BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER AND FR. CHEEYOON CHUN. PHOTO BY THERESE VASQUEZ
For Seminarian Coughlin, ordination as a transitional deacon is the last stage of preparation before full ordination to the priesthood.
This time will serve as a pastoral, liturgical and educational preparation period for the priesthood.
The rite of ordination began with the calling and presentation of Seminarian Coughlin as the sole candidate.
Ordination to the transitional diaconate brings about a profound change as Seminarian Coughlin made the transition from lay to the clerical state. During the ordination ceremony, he made several promises, including obedience to Bishop Vann and his successors, maintaining a life of chaste celibacy and being a man of prayer.
Then, during the Litany of Saints, Seminarian Coughlin prostrated himself face down on the altar.
This was followed by Bishop Vann’s laying of hands upon his head and the prayer of consecration.
Afterwards, Bishop Vann offered this blessing upon him:
“Send forth the Holy Spirit upon him oh Lord, we pray that he may be strengthened by the gift of your sevenfold grace to carry out faithfully this ministry. May he remain firm and steadfast in Christ.”
Seminarian Coughlin then stood to be vested with his stole (a sash-like vestment that is worn from the left shoulder across the chest that marks recipients of Holy Orders) and the dalmatic (a deacon’s outer robe). He was vested by his classmates Deacons Christian Morquecho and Jorge Moncada who were both recently ordained as transitional deacons for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Finally, Bishop Vann placed the Book of the Gospels in the hands of the new deacon with the words, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you preach,” giving Deacon Coughlin the responsibility to proclaim the teachings of Jesus Christ to the community thereby acting as a messenger of the Good News.
Growing up, Deacon Coughlin attended St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Costa Mesa and La Purísima Catholic Church in Orange. Since entering seminary, his home parish has been St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church in Anaheim.
He was born and raised in Orange County into a large Catholic family. The second oldest of seven kids, he has two brothers and four sisters.
Prior to entering seminary, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a juris doctor (J.D.) from Notre Dame Law School.
After working as a litigation attorney for a period of time in Chicago, Deacon Coughlin continued his discernment to become a priest of Jesus Christ.
“Several things inspired me to discern the priesthood,” he shared, “including the example of holy priests that I’ve had the blessing to know during my life, especially as a young adult.”
He points out that his friends and family have been very supportive of his decision.
“The support of my family who raised me in the faith and fostered my vocation as well as devotion to the Eucharist and Our Lady through practices such as Eucharistic adoration and the Rosary.”
He also recently earned a Master of Divinity (MDiv.) degree.
Deacon Coughlin has been assigned to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Huntington Beach where he will be called to proclaim the Gospel, distribute the Eucharist, give instruction in Holy Doctrine, prepare for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to preside over baptisms, marriages, funerals and public prayer. He may even be called upon to preach the homily at Mass.
After completion of this final stage of preparation, Deacon Coughlin is scheduled to be ordained into the Priesthood of Jesus Christ in June 2025.
For more information on vocations in the Diocese of Orange, go to: https://www.rcbo.org/ocvocations/ or call (714) 282-3033.