BLACKWOOD – The sun shone brightly on the Diocese of Camden as 15 men were ordained to the permanent diaconate the morning of Oct 4.
“God is smiling today,” Bishop Joseph Williams said to the hundreds gathered in Saint Agnes Church, Our Lady of Hope Parish.
“You heard His voice, and you’ve answered the call. You’re ready to do what needs to be done,” Bishop Williams said to the diaconate candidates. “Thank you for your ‘yes’ to Jesus.”
Hailing from 14 parishes, the men ordained were Edward J. Danzi; Michael C. Drees; Paul W. Goebel III; Carlos A. Gonzalez Perez; Eddy D. Gonzalez; Matthew Krug; Charles M. Lacey Jr.; Walkens J. Moise; Luis A. Mounier; Paschal C. Nwako; Kirk A. Popiolek; Louis J. Presenza Jr.; Edwin B. Santos Jr.; Barry B. Steele; and Douglas R. Stetser.
“May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment,” Bishop Williams said, noting that the men now act “in Persona Christi Servi – in the person of Christ the servant.” As such, they must have a “self-emptying love” wherever their ministry takes them.
“Be friends of the poor and marginalized … the immigrant … the addict … the sick,” and preach the Good News to “the hearts of people burning for the Word,” he said.
The Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Emeritus Dennis Sullivan, Vicar General Father Jon Thomas and priests from the Diocese. Dozens of the Diocese’s permanent deacons took part in the liturgy, as wives, children, family, and friends of the ordinandi were present to share in the joy.
Also in attendance were clergy from the Diocese of Awka, Nigeria; the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia; and the Diocese of Aba, Nigeria.
In his homily, Bishop Williams stressed the importance of effective preaching, saying, “If we don’t feed them, they’ll be fed somewhere else.” When the deacons preach, “Ask yourselves: ‘Do I see the hearts of people burning for the Word that I have prepared?’”
Also key to their ministry: “Love your wives and children first. People want to see you in love with your spouses. That, too, evangelizes. What a gift.”
Newly ordained Deacon Santos could relate. The parishioner of Holy Eucharist Parish, Cherry Hill, credits his wife of 27 years, Crystal, for helping him on his faith journey. Born a cradle Catholic in the Bronx, N.Y., with Puerto Rican roots, he fell away from the faith. His wife brought him back to the Church 19 years ago.
“As priests and parishioners engaged with me, my heart opened up to the faith in a way that I didn’t think was possible,” said Deacon Santos, 45, who works in federal law enforcement. “I became entrenched in the community as a lector and Eucharistic Minister. I also taught religious education.
“Still, something was missing. All the gifts I had now learned, I wanted to give to other people,” the father of three continued. “I can help people on the outskirts of their faith, with those feelings of confusion and uncertainty, and tell them my story. No matter what age you are, where you’re from, God is patient and always ready to receive you back.”
Deacon Nwako, 57, moved 30 years ago from his native Nigeria to the United States with his wife, Madonna. Today, they have four children and are parishioners of Our Lady of Hope Parish. In the past five years of formation, he has found inspiration and strength from the men in his diaconate class.
“We’re all building each other up. We might come from different walks of life, different professions, but we all have one faith.”
Madonna Nwako called her husband’s ordination an answered prayer. As a father, “Paschal has brought our children to Christ and shown them what it means to be gentle, generous and forgiving.”
To the wider community, she said, “He’ll reach people with his love and light.”
Also ready to minister to the community at-large: Deacon Krug, 56. Born in Ozone Park, N.Y., he received the Sacraments of Initiation in the Ukrainian Catholic Church as an infant. He attended liturgy in both the Eastern and Latin Rites growing up, before moving to South Jersey with his parents as a teenager and attending Saint Jude Church (now Our Lady of Hope) in Blackwood.
The 33-year Army veteran, now retired from the military and working with the Army Corps of Engineers, called his deacon classmates “brothers and family in this different form of combat.”
For the Lacey family of Saint Peter Parish, Merchantville, Ordination Day was a family affair. Deacon Lacey’s three sons were altar servers at the Mass.
“To be able to witness this indelible mark on my father, and be able to participate in it, was a blessing,” said his son Brendan.
Deacon Charles Schiapelli, diocesan assistant director of Diaconate Formation, said the new deacons will bring “the richness of faith to our different parishes and cultures in the Diocese.”
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