Gerard "Jerry" A. Racioppi is scheduled to be ordained to the Transitional Diaconate (a step in the process toward ordination to the Priesthood) at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral in Newark. All are welcome to attend.
Born and raised in Verona, NJ, Jerry spent weekends at his grandparents' house on High Street (now MLK Blvd) in Newark after his parents divorced. Noting that three generations of the Racioppi family have lived in Newark, he says "Being ordained in the city where my family roots run deep is very special to me."
Having a Roman Catholic upbringing and education from grammar to graduate school (Fordham University, NY, M.S.Ed), Jerry was close to entering the process to become a priest while he was an undergraduate at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY, "but I was not able to reconcile my call to the priesthood in a church whose teachings did not fully include gay people."
In 2003 Jerry joined the Church of the Redeemer, Morristown and served as a lector, acolyte, greeter, member of the healing prayer ministry, worship assistant, vestry member, youth group leader, and head of the altar guild for several years.
Still feeling a call to ordained ministry, in early 2011 a discernment committee (which is charged with helping an Aspirant discern the nature of his/her call) was formed with seven Redeemer members, and Jerry's formal process to ordination as a priest began. In August 2012, after 20 years in Human Resources with Marriott Hotels, he started full-time seminary work at Drew Theological School in Madison, NJ.
His seminarian field placement for the past year and a half has been at St. Luke's Church in Montclair. Under the direction of the Rev. John Mennell, Jerry has started a Centering Prayer group, led Evening Prayer services and co-leads the youth group and confirmation classes.
Jerry lives in West Orange with his husband Randy Johnson (Administrator for Diocesan Ministries for the Diocese of Newark) and their two beloved dogs, Max and Bear.
Jerry says he is “most honored to be ordained and grateful to all those who have and continue to walk this journey with me.”
Update December 6, 2014:
Bishop Beckwith presents the new Rev. Deacon Jerry Racioppi to the congregation at his ordination.
NINA NICHOLSON PHOTO
