In hospice, Lehigh Valley man doesn’t let terminal cancer stop him from becoming ordained

Von George kneeled before Bishop Alfred A. Schlert, his head bowed, wearing the white stole of a cleric.

It was a moment he had been preparing for the last six years — and one he was almost not well enough to make.

“God has a plan and I just have to execute it,” he said.

He has been supported, both literally and figuratively, by his faith, in the year since he was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer.

On Aug. 10, the South Whitehall Township resident became the first priest or deacon in the Allentown Diocese’s 63-year history to be ordained with a serious medical condition, according to church officials. A large audience nearly filled the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown for the ordination Mass.

The Rite of Ordination for new clergy includes prostrating themselves before the altar as a sign of their submission before God and their total reliance on His grace. George was accompanied during that portion and throughout by the Rev. Allen J. Hoffa, pastor of Holy Guardian Angels in Reading.

“I was not at my full strength,” George said.

Hoffa “held Von up, literally,” said Jane George, who has chronicled much of the ups and downs of her husband’s health on social media.

Mindful of Von George’s deteriorating health, diocesan leaders offered him the opportunity to be ordained sooner in a shorter liturgy than the normally three-hour ceremony scheduled Sept. 14 for George and the other 15 diaconate candidates.

“I feel it a great honor to have ordained Deacon Von George to the permanent diaconate,” Schlert said. “His desire to serve the church, and his service to our country, is an example to all of us of selflessness, sacrifice and fidelity.”

George, who has lived nearly his entire adult life in the Lehigh Valley, served 28 years in the Army and Pennsylvania National Guard, including deployment in 2007 to Iraq .

Diocese of Allentown Bishop Alfred A. Schlert places his hands on Von George's hands during an ordination service Aug. 10 at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown for George to become a lay permanent deacon. George, of South Whitehall Township, became a deacon despite learning about one year ago that he has pancreatic cancer. Pictured from left to right are Deacon Gerald Schmidt, Schlert, the Rev. Keith Mathur, Seminarian Hy James Gia Ngo, and Seminarian Mark De Jesus.

George, who has served on the Parkland School Board and Upper Macungie Township board of supervisors, said he converted to Catholicism during his freshman year at Ohio University, where he met Jane, regional affairs director at PPL Electric Utilities. They have four adult children and attend St. Thomas More parish in Salisbury Township, where Von George has been assigned to his religious role.

Aug. 11, a day after his ordination, George delivered the homily during the 7:30 a.m. Mass at St. Thomas More, during which he encouraged those who attended to find and follow God’s plan for them.

“If we don’t listen for [God’s] word, if we don’t hear him, we don’t get to know him,” George recalled saying as part of his sermon message.

As for his role in the parish, that is still to be determined, but he hopes to be able to fill in however needed.

A deacon assists the bishop and collaborates with his pastor in service of the parish to which he is assigned. Though he is an ordained clergy, he is not a substitute for the priest. He can preach, distribute Communion and perform other parts of the sacraments, but not all. Deacons also can be involved in other ministries such as social justice, and prison or youth ministry.

George, 62, is currently in home hospice, a word he said contains another word: hope.

“The hope is there; it gives you hope,” he said. “You just have to be open to letting God’s will work in you.”

As to his prognosis — pancreatic cancer is one of the five deadliest cancers — that’s also the Lord’s decision.

“It really is the art of medicine, because they don’t know,” George said, about how much estimated time he has been given to live. “I’ve asked the question twice. I’ve been told it could be weeks to months. It could be closer to weeks. I’ve been told it could be years from now.

“We know not the day or hour.”

Despite chemotherapy, clinical trials and specialized treatments, George continues to work as supply chain and procurement director at St. Peter’s Healthcare System in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He also continued his diaconate training and plans to spend time on a spiritual retreat with his fellow, soon-to-be-ordained deacons.

George’s health experiences during the last year or more have been an inspiration to local Catholics and church leaders.

“It’s so good to see you over there in that deacon’s chair,” Schlert was quoted as saying in an article on the diocese’s website after George was ordained, presented with a Book of the Gospels, and welcomed with a fraternal kiss of peace from the bishop and other clergy.

“Today,” the bishop said, “you are an example to all of us.”

Morning Call reporter Anthony Salamone can be reached at asalamone@mcall.com.