Archdiocesan news

Photo gallery: Five men ordained as transitional deacons

Jacob Wiegand
Submitted on May 9, 2026

Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski ordained five men as transitional deacons on Saturday, May 9, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. The newly ordained are John Paul Angeli, Alex Cammarata, Mark Koenemann, Curtis Prize and Benjamin Wolf. They now begin their last year of formation before their ordination as priests for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Meet the new transitional deacons in the Review’s profile story.

Transitional Deacon Assignments

After the ordination Mass, the new transitional deacons gathered on the front steps of the cathedral basilica. Archbishop Rozanski and other clergy joined them. Here, they received their assignments to assist pastors at parishes around the archdiocese.

Seminarians lay prostrate during the litany of supplication during the rite of ordination of deacons.
(Photos by Jacob Wiegand | jacobwiegand@archstl.org) Five men lay prostrate during the litany of supplication during the rite of ordination of deacons Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Seminarians prayed before the start of their ordination mass.
From left: Mark Koenemann, Alex Cammarata, Curtis Prize, John Paul Angeli and Benjamin Wolf prayed before the start of Mass where they were ordained to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the rectory of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
Seminarians processed to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis for their ordination to the transitional diaconate.
The five seminarians processed to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis for their ordination to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Seminarians waited for the start of Mass, where they were ordained transitional deacons in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
From left: Benjamin Wolf, Curtis Prize, Mark Koenemann, Alex Cammarata and John Paul Angeli waited for the start of the Mass where they were ordained to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Seminarians at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, where they were ordained to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Front row, from left: Benjamin Wolf, Curtis Prize, Mark Koenemann, Alex Cammarata and John Paul Angeli stood during their ordination to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Seminarians stood with their hands folded in prayer at their ordination Mass.
The men stood with their hands folded in prayer before their ordination to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
John Paul Angeli placed his hands in those of Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski during the promise of obedience during the rite of ordination of deacons Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
Five men lay prostrate during the litany of supplication during the rite of ordination of deacons, to become transitional deacons.
Five men lay prostrate during the litany of supplication during the rite of ordination of deacons Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski placed his hands on the head of Curtis Prize at the rite of ordination.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski placed his hands on the head of Curtis Prize during the rite of ordination of deacons Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski placed his hands on the head of Alex Cammarata during the rite of ordination of deacons.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski placed his hands on the head of Alex Cammarata during the rite of ordination of deacons Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Alex Cammarata prayed during the rite of ordination.
Alex Cammarata prayed during the rite of ordination of deacons Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Deacon Mark Koenemann was vested by Father Jason Schumer and Deacon Curtis Prize was vested by Father Anthony Gerber during the rite of ordination of deacons.
Deacon Mark Koenemann (left) was vested by Father Jason Schumer and Deacon Curtis Prize (right) was vested by Father Anthony Gerber during the rite of ordination of deacons Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Deacon Benjamin Wolf and Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski hold the Book of the Gospels during the rite of ordination of deacons.
Deacon Benjamin Wolf (right) and Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski hold the Book of the Gospels during the rite of ordination of deacons Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski embraced Deacon Mark Koenemann during the rite of ordination of deacons.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski embraced Deacon Mark Koenemann during the kiss of peace during the rite of ordination of deacons Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski read assignments for newly-ordained transitional deacons.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski (with microphone) read assignments for newly-ordained deacons (from left) John Paul Angeli, Alex Cammarata, Mark Koenemann, Curtis Prize and Benjamin Wolf after their ordination to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Deacon John Paul Angeli and Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski laughed together after the ordination Mass.
Deacon John Paul Angeli (left) and Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski laughed following Deacon Angeli’s ordination to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
Deacon Mark Koenemann was congratulated by clergy after his ordination to the transitional diaconate.
Deacon Mark Koenemann smiled as fellow clergy congratulated him after his ordination to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
Deacon Curtis Prize met with attendees at a reception following his ordination.
Deacon Curtis Prize met with Gloria Sewell (left) and Stacy Johnson at a reception following Deacon Prize’s ordination to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Boland Hall next to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. Sewell and Johnson are parishioners at St. Peter Claver Parish where Deacon Prize served as a seminarian.
Deacon Alex Cammarata gives a blessing at a reception after his ordination.
Deacon Alex Cammarata gave a blessing over (kneeling from left) Aspirant Isamarie, Sr. Maria del Carmen and Mother Paulina of the Cross, of the Consecrates of the Most Holy Savior in Flint Hill, Missouri, during a reception following Deacon Cammarata’s ordination to the transitional diaconate Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Boland Hall next to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.

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