SIMPSONVILLE—Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone will ordain 18 men to the permanent diaconate on Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. in St. Mary Magdalene Church, located at 2252 Woodruff Road. The public is encouraged to attend.
They are part of a larger class of 35 — an extraordinary number of men, supported by their wives and families — to pledge themselves to ministry.
The first group, comprised of 17 men featured in the Jan. 14 edition of The Miscellany, will be ordained by the bishop on Jan. 30 at Holy Spirit Church on Johns Island.
Deacon Andre Guillet, diocesan director of the diaconate formation program, happily told the men about all the joys that will come their way, and reminded them to be a reflection of Christ.
Men who seek the ministry must complete four years of study and many must balance jobs and family responsibilities during the process.
According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website, the diaconate is the first of three ranks in ordained ministry. Deacons preparing for the priesthood are transitional deacons. Those not planning to be ordained priests are called permanent deacons. Married men may be ordained permanent deacons, and single men may be ordained with a commitment to celibacy.
The permanent diaconate is an important ministry for the diocese as the ordained men are responsible for clergy duties in the parish. They bring the Word to others, proclaim the Gospel at liturgical celebrations, and teach people about the faith. They assist priests during Mass, administer baptisms, witness marriages, preside at funerals and wakes, officiate at benedictions, and lead community prayer services.
The following men will be ordained on Feb. 6:
Name: Nestor Acosta (57)
Parish: St. Mary, Greenville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Jay Scott Newman
Spouse name: Vickie
Children: Two (four grandchildren)
Profession: Director of business operation
Name: Philbrick Allen (58)
Parish: St. Anthony of Padua, Greenville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Patrick Tuttle, OFM
Spouse name: Erena
Children: Five (one grandchild)
Profession: Sales business development
Name: Michael Amato (65)
Parish: St. Mary Magdalene, Simpsonville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Teofilo Trujillo
Spouse name: Beverly
Children: Three (five grandchildren)
Profession: Retired
Name: Norberto Chavez (54)
Parish: St. Mary Magdalene, Simpsonville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Teofilo Trujillo
Spouse name: Martha
Children: One
Profession: Business administration at St. Mary Magdalene
Name: Terrence Chisolm (44)
Parish: St. Mary, Rock Hill
Pastor/Administrator: Father Agustin Guzman, CO
Spouse name: Teri
Children: None
Profession: Teacher
Name: Joseph Ciavardini (61)
Parish: St. Mary Magdalene, Simpsonville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Teofilo Trujillo
Spouse name: Katherine
Children: Three (five grandchildren)
Profession: Retired
Name: Albert De Lachica (47)
Parish: St. Mark, Newberry
Pastor/Administrator: Father Arnulfo Jara Galvez
Spouse name: Marianna
Children: Five
Profession: Communications professor
Name: Robert Donofrio (68)
Parish: Jesus Our Risen Savior, Spartanburg
Pastor/Administrator: Father Edgardo Enverga, CRM
Spouse name: Sue
Children: Four (six grandchildren)
Profession: Retired
Name: Glenn Dudek (50)
Parish: Our Lady of Lourdes, Greenwood
Pastor/Administrator: Father Timothy Tebalt
Spouse name: Lolita
Children: Three (two grandchildren)
Profession: Operations manager
Name: Dexter Gourdin (59)
Parish: St. Anthony of Padua, Greenville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Patrick Tuttle
Spouse name: Deborah
Children: Four
Profession: Quality manager
Name: Mark Gray (58)
Parish: Our Lady of the Hills, Columbia
Pastor/Administrator: Father Peter Sousa, Cssr
Spouse name: Chris
Children: Two (two grandchildren)
Profession: Grocery store merchandiser
Name: John Hall (57)
Parish: All Saints, Lake Wylie
Pastor/Administrator: Father Edward McDevitt
Spouse name: Mary Beth
Children: One
Profession: Parish business supervisor
Name: William Hudson Jr. (53)
Parish: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Simpsonville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Patrick Cooper
Spouse name: Zoe
Children: Two
Profession: Teacher
Name: Gary Janelle (65)
Parish: Holy Trinity, Orangeburg
Pastor/Administrator: Father Wilbroad Mwape
Spouse name: Patricia
Children: Two
Profession: Retired
Name: Steven Olson (57)
Parish: St. Anthony of Padua, Greenville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Patrick Tuttle, OFM
Spouse name: Susan
Children: Three (one grandchild)
Profession: Manufacturing management
Name: Joseph Sanfilippo (61)
Parish: St. Mary, Greenville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Jay Scott Newman
Spouse name: Barb
Children: Five (seven grandchildren)
Profession: Retired
Name: Roger Schonewald (58)
Parish: St. Mary Magdalene, Simpsonville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Teofilo Trujillo
Spouse name: Valerie
Children: Five (six grandchildren)
Profession: Manager, technology programs at GE
Name: Thomas Whalen (63)
Parish: St. Mary, Greenville
Pastor/Administrator: Father Jay Scott Newman
Spouse name: Dorothy
Children: One
Profession: Manager, Michelin Tire
Read more about the men who will be ordained on Jan. 30.
Diaconate ordinations
Jan. 30 | 11 a.m.
Holy Spirit, Johns Island
(17 ordinands)
Feb. 6 | 11 a.m.
St. Mary Magdalene, Simpsonville
(18 ordinands)
