Through his adaptation of the Social Christian Doctrine as elaborated by the Second Vatican Council, he actively evangelized the less fortunate members of society, and established the permanent Diaconate in the archdiocese.
In 1994, James was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood, and then in the following year, he was tonsured a monastic at St Tikhon's Monastery, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, receiving the name Jonah after St. Jonah of Moscow.
Those men called to serve the People of God in the Priesthood take a courses in philosophy and theology after which follows ordination to the diaconate and the priesthood; final vows for those called to Holy Orders come just before the diaconate.
Robert Dyer was admitted to the diaconate on 3 May 1849; and was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Edward Field.