Rev. Mr. Stephen Peter DeLacy
Age: 29
Born: Darby
Baptized: Our Lady of Fatima Church, Secane

Parents/Siblings: Elizabeth and the late Stephen J. DeLacy; one brother, Bernie, 28
Home Parish: St. George, Glenolden
Current Diaconate Assignment: St. Anthony of Padua, Ambler
Grade School/Year Graduated: St. George, Glenolden, 1989
High School/Year Graduated: Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, 1993
College/Year Graduated/Degree/Major: West Chester University, 1998, bachelor of science, accounting
Employment before entering the Seminary: Credit Associate of the Credit Department for HCI East Falls Corp., Frazier, Pa.
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary entrance date: Fall, 1998

What was the deciding moment that led you to enter the Seminary?
I was in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. God clearly spoke to me by placing a simple question on my heart. The question was, “Steve, do you trust Me?”
I knew at that moment the answer was no, I did not trust Him.
At this point I figured I was being called to the priesthood based on other things God was doing in my life and in my heart. It took some time to wrestle with God and, in prayer, learn to trust Him.
When I was able to trust Him, I was able to give Him my “yes.”

Were there any particular moving or grace-filled events in those beginning days or years at the Seminary? This last year?
Joining the Legion of Mary in my first year at the Seminary has been a source of much grace in my life. Not only did this group assist with my pastoral formation, it taught me to rely more heavily on the care of Mary, our Mother.
She has brought me closer to our Lord. I have since entrusted my vocation to her; she saw me through challenging times and has protected my vocation. I plan to entrust my priesthood to her.
This year, some of the most powerful, grace-filled moments for me have come while preaching. I am amazed at how often I have perceived that has God given me the words to say.

What will you miss most about St. Charles Borromeo Seminary?
Without a doubt, I will miss the community life that is present here at St. Charles. When I first arrived at the Seminary, I was most impressed by the goodness, talent and holiness of these men. I remain very impressed.
I have received tremendous joy sharing prayer, fun times, much laughter, great memories and the noblest of goals — being ordained to the Catholic priesthood.

What advice would you give to seminarians who will enter St. Charles for the first time this fall?
The Seminary challenges you to grow in every aspect of your life. This involves difficulties, trials and suffering. My advice is to allow the process to work without being too hard on yourself. You can and will grow if you are faithful to the process and to God.

What do you do for recreation?
I like to exercise and play sports, especially basketball and volleyball. I also enjoy hanging out with my family and friends and watching movies.

What are your favorite devotions and why?
My favorite devotion is praying the rosary. Mary was devoted to Jesus in a perfect, complete and loving way. The same devotion she showed to Jesus, she desires to show us.

What passage from Scripture is most meaningful to you and why?
The Prodigal Son, Lk 15:11-32, is very meaningful to me; this is my relationship with God. In verse 21, we see the son’s humility when he acknowledges his sinfulness by confessing, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.”
The father, hearing the confession, embraces the son and restores him to his former dignity. The way the son confesses is the type of penitent I hope to become. The way the father forgives is the type of confessor I desire to be.

What does the priesthood mean to you?
The priesthood is the extension of Christ’s love to His people through the sacraments, most especially the Eucharist. Christ brings people into relationship with the Father through the forgiveness of sins and the imparting of sanctifying grace. For me, the priesthood is an unlimited font of the mercy of God poured out in sacrifice.

What is your greatest hope for the Church?
The cross is the greatest hope for the Church. At the crucifixion, evil looked like it was winning, but Jesus turned it into victory.
In the present world, one can have the perspective that evil is winning and the Church is losing. At these times, we experience the victory of the cross.

What might the faithful do to promote vocations to the priesthood?
The decline of vocations I believe is symptomatic of a lack of fervor for doing God’s will on the part of a large number of the faithful. The best way for the faithful to inspire vocations to the priesthood is to be intensely devoted to doing God’s will in their own lives. The witness of anyone doing God’s will is powerful and will inspire vocations.

What will you as a priest do to promote vocations to the priesthood?
One of our former vocation directors, Father Parlante (now Msgr. Gregory J. Parlante), asked boys the question, “If God were to ask you to become a priest, would you say, ‘yes’?”
This question struck me as a powerful way to encourage guys to think about whether or not God is calling them to the priesthood and to help build up their ability to respond “Yes.” I plan to ask this question to as many men as possible.

What are your feelings as ordination approaches? How do you envision ordination day?
The first feeling is anticipation. I wonder what it will be like to consecrate bread and wine into our Lord and God and to absolve sins.
I feel anxious about the awesome responsibility that comes with ordination.
I feel a bit sad because I am leaving two places that I now consider my homes. I leave St. Charles and all the great seminarians and faculty present there. I also leave my diaconate assignment where I have been since last June. The people at St. Anthony have been so good and kind to me. I will miss them.
I feel hopeful. I also feel great excitement, joy, wonder and humility that Almighty God has called me.
I envision ordination day as a day I will never forget. An ordination is such a powerful and intense ceremony that I am sure I will be overwhelmed by the life-changing work of God that will take place in me at the hands of Cardinal Rigali.
— Compiled by Christie L. Chicoine, CS&T Staff Writer