Ordination Update: A Record 21 New Deacons For Rockford

The press release from last week says it all:

The largest class of permanent deacons in the history of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford will be ordained this weekend before family and friends from across the 11-county Diocese.

Bishop David J. Malloy will ordain 21 men to assist in the ministry of the Catholic Church through the 105 parishes in the Diocese. The Rite of Ordination will be conferred at an 11 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter, 1243 North Church St., here.

The men to be ordained are: Peter Addotta, St. Anthony Parish, Rockford; Jim Easton, Cathedral of St. Peter Parish, Rockford; Frank Englert, St. Mary Parish, Huntley; Ken Giacone, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Crystal Lake; John Huntley, St. Rita Parish, Rockford; Bill Johnston, St. Mary Parish, Woodstock; Michael Keane, St. Joseph Parish, Harvard; Chuck Loehr, Holy Cross Parish, Stockton; Richard Marcantonio, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Crystal Lake; Ron Meadors, St. Bernadette Parish, Rockford; Luis Patino, St. Rita Parish, Aurora; Ken Ramsey, Holy Cross Parish, Batavia; Paul Ranney, St. Mary Parish, Freeport; Armando Regalado, St. Mary Parish, DeKalb; Jovie Reyes, St. Bridget Parish, Loves Park; Craig Robinson, Church of Holy Apostles Parish, McHenry; George Schramm, St. Patrick Parish, Rochelle; Jason Stewart, Holy Family Parish, Rockford; Mike Timmerman, St. Mary Parish, Sycamore; Jim Ward, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Hampshire; and Ken Wasko, Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Cary.

Father Kenneth Wasilewski, director of the Rockford Diocese’s Office for the Permanent Diaconate, said: “The service of these candidates to their respective parish communities has already included them serving as lectors, extraordinary ministers and adult faith formation leaders. They have been active in religious education, social outreach, the Rite of Christian Initiation and even marriage and baptismal preparation. As deacons their service will include some of these same things but also be expanded far beyond them. They will serve in whatever capacity service is needed.”

A deacon is a man ordained by the bishop for service in liturgy, the Word and charity. Derived from the Greek “diakonia”, which is translated as “servant” or “one who serves,” the role of deacons is to assist the bishop and his priests. The deacon is an ordinary minister of Baptism and the Eucharist. He proclaims the Gospel at Mass and preaches, and he may officiate at weddings. He can preside at Communion services, funeral services and wakes, celebrations of the Liturgy of the Hours and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The candidates’ ordination will be the culmination of a five-year formation process which focused on Sacred Scripture, theology, canon law, spirituality, personal formation, sacramental preparation, liturgy, homiletics and pastoral care.