Brother Jeremy-Marie Joly of the Franciscans of the Emmanuel, a religious fraternity rooted in both contemplative prayer and missionary life, was ordained a transitional deacon on June 3, 2026, at Saint-Charles Church in Pointe-Saint-Charles, a significant step on his journey to the priesthood. Archbishop Christian Lépine, who celebrated the ordination, delivered a homily that led the faithful into the heart of what it means to hear God's voice, embrace silence, and give one's life in service after the manner of Christ.

Archbishop Lépine presented the ordination itself as a living testimony to God's unceasing work in the world. In an age defined by noise, distraction and relentless motion, he acknowledged that many wonder whether God can still make himself heard. His answer was direct: "The world can speak loudly, but there is only One who has the power to speak to the heart, and that is God." That same God, he said, has spoken to the heart of Jeremy-Marie and continues to address the heart of every person present.

The Archbishop then put a question to the assembly. Do we truly wish to hear God speaking to us? To welcome it, he said, requires learning silence: "What we need most today is to learn silence." To fall silent before God is to tell him that we wish to listen, to allow him to speak and, through his Word, to transform us.

Archbishop Lépine invoked the figure of Saint Francis of Assisi, whose eighth centenary the Church marks this year — 800 years since his death on October 3, 1226. Saint Francis was himself a deacon, and he remains a model of humble, authentic service. He did not seek to instruct by argument but bore witness through the quality of his life. Transformed by the Word of God, he continues to inspire the Church across the centuries.

Returning to the Gospel of the washing of the feet, Archbishop Lépine reflected on that gesture of Christ at the Last Supper as a foreshadowing of the Cross. In that gesture, Jesus reveals the full shape of his mission: purification and salvation. As our feet require washing, so our hearts, souls and minds stand in need of being made clean. On the Cross, he said, Christ unfolds the full power of his merciful love to free us from sin. "Never think that there is a sin in your life that Jesus Christ cannot purify, and from which he cannot set you free."

This truth finds its deepest resonance in baptism, the sacrament of purification and new life. God never tires of forgiving. In that forgiveness, we discover the joy proper to sinners who have been reconciled and loved.

The homily closed on the meaning of the diaconate itself. To be ordained a deacon is to be ordained for service, yet the first and truest servant is Jesus Christ himself. The deacon is called to serve the Christ who serves his Church and his people: a vocation of humble participation in the work of the Lord.

In his closing words, Archbishop Lépine invited the faithful to give thanks for the gift of this vocation and to ask the Lord to place in their hearts a complete trust in his mercy. The ordination of Brother Jeremy-Marie Joly stands as a reminder that God continues to call, to transform, and to send his servants into the world as witnesses to his love.

The ceremony was livestreamed and remains available on the diocesan YouTube channel (French only):

Maribel Mayorga
Press Officer, Archbishop's Office and
Director, Communications and Media relations
Archdiocese of Montreal