MEDIA RELEASE:

Sixteen Deacons to be Ordained for the Archdiocese of Toronto

TORONTO (May 28, 2010) – On Saturday, May 29, 2010, sixteen candidates will be ordained to the permanent diaconate for service in the Archdiocese of Toronto by Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar of Deacons, Bishop Vincent Nguyen. The ceremony takes place at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Cathedral in downtown Toronto.

Permanent deacons provide ongoing pastoral care in places like hospitals, prisons and homes for the aged. You may also see them at your local Catholic church, assisting the parish priest.

In 1967, a few years after the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), the Roman Catholic Church reintroduced the permanent diaconate program.  Candidates are not studying to become priests – once ordained, they remain deacons for the rest of their lives. In addition to their service in the community, deacons have a strong presence at their local parish – from preaching and teaching to presiding at spiritual services.   

Since 1972, St. Augustine’s Seminary in Scarborough has offered a four year formation program for candidates and their wives. Currently, more than 100 deacons serve throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto, which extends from Oshawa to Mississauga and north to Georgian Bay.

The class of 2010 represents a diverse group of candidates, both in their ethnic and geographic background:

Mr. Curtis Boone - St. Padre Pio Parish, Woodbridge  
Mr. Silverio Fidalgo - St. Patrick's Parish, Mississauga
Mr. David MacInnis - St. Gregory the Great Parish, Oshawa
Mr. Damien McGowan - St. Philip Neri Parish, Toronto
Mr. Michael Miranda - St. John Chrysostom Parish, Newmarket
Mr. Alan Morris - St. Leo's Parish, Etobicoke
Mr. Michael O'Mahoney - Newman Centre Catholic Mission, Toronto
Mr. Don O'Shaughnessy - St. Martin de Porres Parish, Scarborough
Mr. Rudy Ovcjak - St. Isaac Jogues, Pickering
Mr. Joseph Owusu-Afriyie - St. Andrew's Parish, Etobicoke
Mr. Sarfaraz Pinto - St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Markham
Mr. Domenico Pullano - St. David's Parish, Maple
Mr. Terence Rebello - Prince of Peace Parish, Scarborough
Mr. Don Roberts - St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Mississauga
Mr. James Shaughnessy - Good Shepherd Parish, Thornhill
Mr. Larry Shaw - St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Bramalea

The Archdiocese of Toronto is the spiritual home to 1.9 million Catholics, celebrating Mass at 225 parishes in more than 30 languages each week.

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Media Contact:
Neil MacCarthy – Director, Public Relations & Communications
Archdiocese of Toronto
(416) 934-3400 x 552  (416) 879-2846 (cell)
neilm@archtoronto.org
www.archtoronto.org