Bishop William Winter to ordain Joseph S. Uzar as Transitional Deacon

Bishop William J. Winter, Retired Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, will ordain seminarian Joseph S. Uzar (Joe) as a transitional deacon on Saturday, June 20, at 10 a.m. at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Carnegie. Because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and safe distancing requirements, admission to the ordination is limited to invited, ticketed guests only. This celebration is the last step before his ordination to the priesthood next year. He will return to Saint Vincent Seminary this fall to complete his fourth year there in theological studies.
 
Transitional deacons are men who are in their final stages of preparation for the Catholic priesthood. They have spent at least six years in priestly formation, which includes academic studies in philosophy and theology, growth in virtue and a life of prayer and immersion in service work in the community, among other things.
 
Catholic deacons are ordained for two primary roles: service at the altar in the celebration of the sacraments and works of charity in the community. Deacons assist the priest and can preach the homily at Mass, they can baptize and can celebrate weddings and funerals that do not take place during Mass. Deacons cannot hear confessions nor can they anoint those who are sick. Through works of charity, deacons serve at soup kitchens and food banks, visit the elderly and infirm in personal care homes, visit those in prison and lead programs such as Bible studies at their parishes.
 
 “Joe has prepared well and is ready to serve the people of God as a transitional deacon,” Bishop David Zubik said. “I am excited to see the way in which he will vibrantly share the faith and love of Jesus with others as he prepares to be ordained as a priest.”
 
Joe was born on January 5, 1994.  He is the son of Diana and Joseph Uzar, Sr.  Joe has a younger sister, Sarah, and a younger brother, Matthew. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Carnegie is Joe’s home parish.  He attended Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Grade School and Carlynton Junior/Senior High School, both in Carnegie, graduating in 2012.
 
In the fall of 2012, Joe was accepted into the priestly formation program to begin studies at Saint Paul Seminary and Duquesne University.  In 2016, he finished his fourth year of studies at Duquesne University and his fourth year of formation at Saint Paul Seminary. Joe was assigned to Saint Vincent Seminary to begin theological studies at Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, in August 2016 and finished his second year in May 2018.
 
During the summer of 2017, Joe participated in the seminarian program of the Institute for Priestly Formation at the University of Creighton in Omaha, Nebraska. In June 2018, Joe was assigned to Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Beaver, for his Pastoral Formation Year.  His assignment also included the parishes of Saint Cecilia, Rochester; Saint Felix, Freedom; and Holy Family, New Brighton.  In the fall of 2019, Joe returned to Saint Vincent Seminary to begin his third year of theological studies.
 
In speaking about what led him to seek a ministry in holy orders, Joe says, “My greatest influence has been the witness of the priests, religious, and countless lay people in my parish who showed me the joy that comes from serving others both in the parish and the whole community.” 
 
He went on to talk about the effects of the pandemic on the community and on his ordination ceremony. “The pandemic has certainly limited the number of people who can attend the ordination itself, but not its effect.  I would have liked to have been able to celebrate this moment with all the people who have supported me along this journey. It is because of their support and my desire to serve our Lord that I have been this excited and determined to see this part of the journey to its completion.  These eight years of formation have been challenging in so many ways and the pandemic is just another bump in the road, but is has not taken my sights off of my goal, to love and serve the Lord with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength,” he concluded.  

ADVISORY TO NEWS AND ASSIGNMENT EDITORS
Bishop Winter and newly ordained Deacon Joseph Uzar will be available for photos, video and interviews at the entrance to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 330 3rd Ave, Carnegie, PA 15106, following the Diaconate Mass at approximately 12 noon Saturday.  Because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and safe distancing requirements, admission to the ordination is limited to invited, ticketed guests only. The ordination will be live-streamed at CGSCatholic.org and at diopitt.org.