Third year theology student Braden Maher of St. Anthony Parish, Effingham, was among 17 seminarians who made their deacon promises on March 5 in St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology.

Seminarians who are about to be ordained deacons make their Promise of Celibacy and Oath of Fidelity, which are the canonical requirements for ordination.

Maher is the son of Joseph and Gladys Maher of Effingham.