Above: Cornelius Deep at his 2025 ordination to the transitional diaconate. Sun archives.
Deacon Cornelius Deep prepares for ordination to the priesthood
By Eileen Jevis
Staff Writer
One month before his ordination to the priesthood, Deacon Cornelius Deep sat down with The Catholic Sun to talk about his expectations, what he’s looking forward to, and how he has grown in his faith and commitment to serving God. His excitement and passion for the Lord are palpable.
Cornelius said that growing up, entering the priesthood was always in the back of his mind. He was involved with his parish at Our Lady of Lourdes in Utica, now called Mary, Mother of our Savior, as an altar server and sacristan, and participated in the youth group. While the idea of entering the priesthood was always present, he said he continued to push it aside to focus on other things. But now, Cornelius said, he’s ready and excited to take his vows. “There’s a sense of peace and joy when one finds out what the Lord has created for you,” he said. “And this is what the Lord has created for me — to be a priest for His people.”
Cornelius said he’s looking forward to nurturing young people who are lukewarm in their faith or who don’t have faith at all and helping them catch fire for the Lord. He also welcomes hearing confessions and becoming a spiritual director for people to guide them in their prayer life and grow in their relationship with the Lord.
“While in the seminary, I had the same spiritual director for five years, and he is top-notch,” Cornelius said. “I think he will help me on my path as a priest, especially during those tough moments. I will definitely lean on him.”
Cornelius knows that at times, his road will be challenging. But he thinks of his years of priesthood as a marathon. “I’m not going into this thinking it will be easy, fun, or joyful all the time.” As someone who ran two marathons, Dc. Cornelius said it’s all about setting a pace that you can sustain. “I was good at finding a pace that I could maintain throughout the marathon; a steady pace for all of the 26.2 miles. Hopefully, I can translate that into the priesthood. You don’t want to set a pace that is too fast and results in getting burned out after 10 years. And you don’t want to set a pace that is too slow, that could mean you’re not giving enough of yourself to others,” he said.
In addition to exercising and daily prayer, Dc. Cornelius said that reading has been one area of growth that has helped him as a person and as a servant of God. “I never liked reading throughout high school and college, or even in the seminary,” he admitted. “It wasn’t until the last couple of years that I began reading during my free time.” He credits the Lord’s grace for his new thirst for reading. “Books about the saints and spirituality have helped me grow, not only in prayer, but in my daily life, trying to be virtuous. Not only do they teach me things, but they inspire me to want to put [the teachings] into practice,” he said.
As Dc. Cornelius moves closer to ordination, he said his closest companion has been the Lord Jesus. “He has been my faithful friend, my faithful companion, and the one I’ve fallen in love with,” he said. “He is going to be the one who continues to walk with me in my priesthood,” Cornelius said his connection to the Lord for the past six years has been constant. “If I get separated from Him in priesthood, then it’s pointless. I will be leaning on Him the most in those tough moments.”
Dc. Cornelius is grateful for the support and knowledge he receives from Father Joe O’Connor, who has been a positive and strong advisor throughout his school years. “I remember him coming to my elementary school and eating lunch with him in the cafeteria. He would come to Notre Dame High School and talk about vocations and teach our religion classes,” said Cornelius. “So, when I first thought about applying to become a priest, before my senior year of college, I contacted him. We set up a time to meet, and he walked me through the process.”
Father Joe’s positions have changed throughout the years. He was vicar forane of Vicariate I, pastor of three Baldwinsville parishes, and diocesan director of seminarian vocation promotion before being appointed vice rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., where Dc. Cornelius is completing his studies. “The Lord placed him in my life when I was little. During the seminary, he has been a steady supporter.” Deacon Cornelius said that Fr. Joe is not afraid to push him, challenge him, and call attention to things he needs to improve on. “And to this day, he continues to challenge me.” Fr. Joe will be vesting Cornelius at his ordination.
Deacon Cornelius said he also relies on his brother. While they have been in different states for 10 years, his brother, who is married and has children, is a trusted confidant and friend. “We have the type of relationship where even if you’ve been away from someone for a while, you can pick up [a conversation] right where you left off. We can laugh, have serious conversations, and we lean on each other,” Cornelius said. “As my older brother, he has always been protective of me. He has my back.”
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia will announce Cornelius’s first assignment at the end of his ordination on May 30. Wherever he is assigned, he is ready to work hard and to start the race. “I’m ready to start the priesthood,” he said. “I’m feeling the excitement.” Deacon said that through his daily hour of prayer and adoration, he will continue to unload his burdens on the Lord. “And somehow, the Lord is able to receive it all and help bring peace to my soul.
“I’m ready to go,” he added. “The Lord has been preparing me for this my whole life.”
