Deacon John Vespa to be ordained by Pope Leo XIV

Deacon John Vespa remembers his first day at the seminary as if it were yesterday. Accompanied by his family, he arrived at Corpus Christi College and was warmly welcomed by fellow seminarians and formation staff.

‘I remember setting up my room, unpacking all my boxes and getting everything together, and just working out what I was going to hang where,’ recalls Deacon John.

‘I hung two images—one of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and one of the Sacred Heart of Mary—and a crucifix on the wall, so that as soon as you came into my bedroom, you’d see them.’

Seven years have passed since that day. On Friday 27 June, Deacon John will be ordained to the priesthood by Pope Leo XIV at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He is one of 30 seminarians from around the world chosen to be ordained by the Pope during this Jubilee Year.

It is a joyful coincidence that his ordination falls on the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. ‘Looking back now on that [first] day at the seminary, it’s an absolute blessing.’

‘Light into our family’

As the youngest of four, Deacon John was always doted on by his siblings and elders.

‘John was a very energetic little boy who was very friendly and very happy,’ recalls his older sister Santina. ‘He brought this light into our family from a young age.’

‘I remember him as a little child, always being around us, just playing card games or just going out to the park and really enjoying our family time,’ she says.

As the eldest, Santina felt a special responsibility towards her youngest brother. ‘I just wanted to make sure that he was okay. I think it was a motherly part of me coming out. I just wanted to ensure that he was always on the right track and so I was checking in on him all the time.’

Faith was a central part of the Vespa household, shaped by their Italian heritage. ‘Faith is quite important, and it was very much a part of our lives [growing up]. We went to Italian Mass every Sunday, and Dad was part of the choir. We were very enriched.’

Their father encouraged faith-based reflection, even from a young age. ‘Dad would always ask us, “What did you get out of the homily?”’ Santina remembers. ‘So the faith was certainly very important for us, and I think it keeps the family together.’

She wasn’t entirely surprised when John later announced his desire to enter the priesthood.

‘I kind of knew that there was something in him and that he may go down that road,’ she says. Their grandfather had always sensed it too, often saying there was ‘something special’ about John. ‘It was a long time ago, but I think it was a spiritual guide towards his path … his journey.’

‘I didn’t know for sure that this may happen, but when John told me, I was very happy,’ Santina adds.

Santina’s husband, Luke, has known Deacon John since he was five and shares in the family’s pride. ‘He’s a very likeable person. And I’ve noticed that whatever John decides to do, he puts his mind to it.’

‘Most people would have given up, as it’s been such a long process—seven years,’ Luke reflects, tearing up. ‘And so I take my hat off to John.’

Santina and Luke describe Deacon John’s transformation over the past seven years as ‘profound’.

‘I think he has certainly changed in the last seven years,’ says Santina, ‘and he’s become an inspiration to us all—not just for what he’s been doing within the seminary, but for the people around him.

‘Lots of friends and family say that he’s someone they can go and speak to, because he’s just got this calmness about him.

‘He’s an inspiration and I’m honoured to be his sister, really.’

‘This is really happening now’

Deacon John was stunned when he received the email from the Vatican confirming his ordination with Pope Leo XIV.

‘I read it a couple of times and just thought, this is really happening now.’ Shortly after, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli called to congratulate him on representing Australia at the Mass during the Jubilee.

‘And ever since then it’s slowly been sinking in, but it was a lot to get my head around,’ he admits. Though he had submitted his name to be ordained in Rome, he wasn’t certain he’d be selected—or if his parents would be able to make the trip.

‘But when I received the news, I shared it with my family and in an instant, everyone said, “We’re coming!”’

Deacon John says he’s deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from friends, family, parishioners and the wider Melbourne community.

His parents and uncle will be with him in Rome for the ordination, along with siblings Santina and David from Melbourne, and his brother Paul and wife Veronica from London. Parishioners from both St Francis of Assisi in Mill Park and St Bede’s in Balwyn will also be there—a testament to the impact he’s had in the communities he’s served.

‘The Archbishop is coming, as well as the Rector and Vice Rector of the seminary, who have been with me since the beginning of my journey. It’s a blessing to have everyone there,’ he says.

When asked what he’s most looking forward to at the ordination, Deacon John reflects on what will be a profoundly symbolic moment: when he kneels and the Pope places his hands on his head and anoints his hands.

He’s also looking forward to the litany of saints, where the ordinands lie prostrate in prayer, invoking the intercession of the saints and angels.

‘We’re there to give our lives to the Lord and for the Church,’ says Deacon John. ‘So just being able to lay down and pray the litany of saints, to myself, but also to hear the litany being prayed by all the people of God—it’s going to be special.’