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Twelve Men to be Ordained as
Deacons
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK, May 18, 2007 – Twelve men
will be ordained as permanent deacons by The Most Reverend
William Murphy, Bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre, on
Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Agnes Cathedral.
“By ordination, [a deacon] is enabled to act as a
representative of Christ, Head of the Church, in his triple
office of priest, prophet and king,” according to Catechism of
the Catholic Church.
Permanent deacons are those men not planning to be ordained
priests. Deacons can assist bishops and priests in the
distribution of Holy Communion and the proclamation of the
Gospel and preaching. They can preside at weddings, baptisms
and funerals, as well as dedicate themselves to the various
ministries of charity. They cannot celebrate Mass or
administer the sacraments of penance, confirmation, or
anointing of the sick.
“The deacon is an icon of Christ the servant, not only
preaching the Social Gospel but also serving as an advocate
for justice both with the church in particular and in society
in general,” said Sister Mary Alice Piil, CSJ, director of the
diocesan Office of Faith Formation.
Some deacons are married, while some are single. A widowed or
single man who is ordained a deacon makes a lifelong promise
of celibacy. A married deacon whose wife dies cannot marry
again without an exemption.
Most deacons continue working in their secular occupations
while also serving in their ministry. Some, however, work
full-time with parish staffs or church institutions.
The men who will be ordained are Richard J. Bilella, Arthur A.
Candido, Daniel J. Fischer, Marino Gonzalez, John L. Grebe,
Richard E. Iandoli, Robert R. Lyon, V. Anthony Maggipinto,
George A. Mais Jr., Alfredo Mora, Albert C. Pickford and Jesus
M. Valdes.
Bilella, 61, is a home improvement contractor and a
veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is married with two children and
will serve at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Centerport.
Candido, 46, is the business manager at St. Patrick’s
Church, Glen Cove and will serve at Our Lady of Fatima,
Manorhaven. He lives in Port Washington with his wife and two
children.
Fischer, 50, is a pharmacist at Stony Brook University
Hospital and will serve at St. Louis de Montfort Church, Sound
Beach. He is married with two children.
Gonzalez, 43, is a property manager and will serve at
St. Luke’s Church, Brentwood. He and his wife have three
children.
Grebe, 38, is a Nassau County Police Officer and an
instructor at the Police Academy. He will serve at St.
Elizabeth Ann Seton, Lake Ronkonkoma. He is married with four
children.
Iandoli, 47, is a controller for an educational
services company and will serve at St. Barnabas the Apostle,
Bellmore. He and his wife have one child.
Lyon, 63, is an Army veteran who worked for American
Airlines for 26 years. He will serve at Mary Immaculate
Church, Bellport. He is married with four children.
Maggipinto, 64, will serve at SS. Philip and James
Church, St. James. He is an attorney-at-law and a veteran of
the U.S. Navy. He is married with two sons.
Mais, 64, is a U.S. Army veteran and a retired computer
analyst for Verizon, where he worked for 43 years. He and his
wife have seven children.
Mora, 55, is a certified welder and steamfitter. He
will serve at St. Patrick, Glen Cove, where he lives with his
wife and three children.
Pickford, 53, is a director of operations in the field
of manufacturing. He will serve at St. Joseph the Worker, East
Patchogue. He is married with four children.
Valdes, 45, will serve at St. Dominic, Oyster Bay. He
is a married U.S. Army veteran and a Nassau County police
detective. He worked at the New York City Department of
Corrections at Ryker’s Island for four years.
###
About The Diocese of Rockville Centre
Celebrating its Golden Jubilee, the Diocese of Rockville
Centre (www.drvc.org) was formed in 1957 and covers 1,198
square miles in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The diocese
serves approximately 1.4 million Catholics (total population
in both counties is approximately 2.8 million). There are 134
parishes in 115 towns. Last year over 18,000 baptisms, 18,000
confirmations, 19,000 first communions and 4,000 marriages
took place in the diocese. There are approximately 22,000
students in Catholic elementary schools; 13,000 in secondary
schools and 3,300 in higher institutions. There are 69
Catholic elementary and high schools and one Catholic college
in the diocese. There are also 120,189 total students in
religious education. Catholic Health Services of Long Island
consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, a
community-based home for those with special needs and a
hospice. Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more than
59,000 individuals who are poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged
on Long Island. (4/20/07)
* * * * *
Contact:
Sean P. Dolan
Director of Communications
516-678-5800, ext. 625
sdolan@drvc.org
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