Thomas Junis Ordained Deacon by Bishop Gregory Studerus

By Fr. Mike Mendl, SDB, and Ms. Julia St. Clair, Province Communications Director

(New Rochelle, NY – June 23) – Salesian Thomas S. Junis was ordained to the diaconate on Saturday, June 21, by the Most Rev. Gregory Studerus, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Newark. The rite of ordination was celebrated at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Orange, N.J.

Twenty-three Salesians concelebrated, including Fr. Dominic Tran, provincial. About a dozen Salesian brothers, both coadjutors and seminarians, also took part, along with Bro. Tom’s parents, godparents, and other family members, two Salesian sisters, two prenovices, other members of the Salesian Family, altar servers from the parish, Salesian Lay Missioner candidates, and youths from several Salesian works. Others tuned in via live stream from YouTube.

Named an auxiliary bishop only five years ago, Bishop Studerus, 77, had his resignation on account of age accepted just a few weeks ago. He’d begun to think he’d never have an opportunity to ordain anyone. But not long ago, the Newark Benedictines called upon his ministry—he called that a “practice” for Bro. Tom’s diaconal ordination—which became his second such celebration. A longtime pastor in the Newark Archdiocese, he relishes pastoral ministry, is delighted to continue doing that with fewer administrative responsibilities now, and admires the marvelous work he sees his fellow priests doing. He appreciates Cardinal Tobin, Newark’s archbishop, and his fellow auxiliaries as great pastors.

Bp. Studerus began his homily by noting the feast of Corpus Christi on June 22, a celebration of the Word of God’s coming into the world as one of us. He linked the Divine Word to Dcn. Tom’s call to proclaim the Word through his preaching of the Gospel and the witness of his life.

Referring to the gospel of Jesus’ washing the feet of the apostles that had been read moments earlier (John 13:1-20), the bishop directed the new deacon to imitate the Master’s example in his service to Christ and God’s people. “What a wonderful, beautiful calling!” he exclaimed.

The bishop continued by observing that with the strength of the Holy Spirit, Dcn. Tom will assist the Salesians wherever he’ll serve and assist the local bishop by proclaiming the Word of God, providing sacramental assistance, and leading public prayer. “Do the will of God in charity and from the depth of your heart,” he exhorted the ordinand.

At the beginning of Mass, Fr. Dominic Tran welcomed everyone to the liturgy, especially Bp. Studerus. As the ordination rite began, he presented Bro. Tom and assured the bishop that he was ready for ordination. When the bishop accepted the candidate, the congregation signaled their approval with applause.

The Scriptures were read by Bro. Bernard Dubé, SDB, Sr. April Hoffman, FMA, Bro. Tom’s godfather Peter Hermes, and Fr. Patrick Angelucci, SDB. Fr. Pat also vested the new deacon following the imposition of hands and prayer of consecration.

Alessia Santoro, music director of Our Lady of the Valley, led the music.

At the end of Mass, Dcn. Tom voiced thanks to God, Mary Help of Christians, his family, Bp. Studerus, and numerous confreres and others who assisted him in discerning and following his Salesian vocation. He directed toward the livestream camera a message in Spanish to his friends and supporters in Tlaquepaque.

Following the Mass, the celebration continued with a buffet lunch in the parish center.

Dcn. Tom Junis was born to Mitch and Margie Junis in Bloomington, Ill., in 1992. He began to discern his vocation as a university student and was influenced there by the sisters on campus, the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and then by two Newman Center chaplains, the late Fr. Greg Ketcham of the Peoria Diocese (a Salesian Cooperator) and Fr. Bill Bucciferro, SDB, formerly on the staff of the Newman Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Early on, Tom made St. John Bosco his patron for his educational efforts and went to Turin in 2015 on a Don Bosco bicentennial pilgrimage.

After earning a degree in early childhood education from Illinois State University in Bloomington, Tom entered the Salesians at Orange, N.J., as a candidate in 2016. He made his novitiate at the Salesian house in Richmond, Calif., in 2017-2018 and made his first profession at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, N.Y. (now the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians).

Both Mr. and Mrs. Junis felt overwhelmed by their son’s vocation and the celebration of his ordination. They find their reactions hard to put into words. Mrs. Junis sees “so much grace at work” but admits it wasn’t easy for her at the beginning of Tom’s vocational journey. Now she’s “so proud of him.” At the same time, she isn’t surprised by his vocation; she stated that even in grammar school some called him “Father Tom.” She appreciates very much the vocational guidance he got in college and that both Dcn. Tom and his family have found a genuine family among the Salesians. Now, “As long as he’s happy, it doesn’t matter where he’ll be” because the Salesians look after one another so diligently.

Following two years of postnovitiate formation, Bro. Tom did practical training in 2020-2022 at Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, La. There, he taught theology to sophomores and juniors, served as chaplain to the basketball and baseball teams, and developed good relationships with many students outside the classroom.

In 2022, Bro. Tom began theological studies at the Salesian studentate in Tlaquepaque, Mexico. He especially enjoyed his classes in Christology, Mariology, and the sacred Scriptures. He completed ministry in the local youth center as well as in the state of Oaxaca.

In the summer of 2024, Bro. Tom assisted with camp in Montreal, Que. He made his perpetual profession last August at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians.

Dcn. Tom’s ordination marks both the province’s first ordination in two years and the first to the diaconate in three years. The Salesian Family rejoices with Dcn. Tom and prays for him as he embarks on the next steps of his journey to be a Salesian priest.

For his final year of theological preparation for the priesthood, Dcn. Tom will study at the Chicago Theological Union, along with Bros. Francis Nguyen, SDB, and Paul Hotovy. They will be part of the Salesian community in Chicago, based at St. John Bosco-St. James Parish.