Nine men responding to God’s call will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Saturday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica by the Most Rev. Bishop Vincent Nguyen, Vicar for the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

This ordination marks the culmination of years of discernment and formation for the candidates and their wives, preparing our newest Permanent Deacons for a journey of faithful service to the Church and the broader community at large.

Permanent deacons, referred to as such because they are ordained for life, are called to a three-fold ministry of assisting priests at the altar, proclaiming the Gospel and engaging in charitable outreach within the community such as chaplaincy, visiting the sick, or serving the poor. Deacons may also administer at baptisms and witness marriages.  

Most Permanent Deacons are married and have families, working in secular employment in addition to their service at a local parish and outreach ministry. The wives of Permanent Deacons are an ongoing presence in the multi-year formation process for their husbands and provide their consent as part of the ordination Mass.

The Archdiocese of Toronto joyfully welcomes the “Class of 2026”:

• Deacon Ian Chung - St. Agnes Kouying Parish, Markham and giving of his time in service to Carefirst One-Stop Multi-Services Centre which offers health, social and community services.
• Deacon David Della Rosa - St. Padre Pio Parish, Kleinburg and providing pastoral ministry at Aspira Villa Da Vinci Retirement Living, a retirement and senior-living community.
• Deacon David Fischer - St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Oshawa and sharing his gifts through pastoral outreach at Ripples of Kindness, a local volunteer giving group dedicated to building community and supporting local charities.
• Deacon Mark McLeish - St. Patrick’s Parish, Markham and offering pastoral ministry at L’Arche Daybreak, a community dedicated to serving adults with intellectual disabilities.
• Deacon Scott McMaster - St. Clement’s Parish, Etobicoke and ongoing ministry at Cortellucci Hospital, a full-service acute-care hospital.
• Deacon William Onuwa - St. Josephine Bakhita Parish, Mississauga and faithful service at Amica Credit Mills, a private senior living community.
• Deacon Jess Perucho - St. Patrick’s Parish, Mississauga and pastoral outreach with The Open Door, a Christian community outreach and support centre.
• Deacon Ernest Pereira - St. Rose of Lima Parish, Scarborough and pastoral ministry at Bendale Acres Long-Term Care Home, a public long-term care home.
• Deacon Erik Spence - Immaculate Conception Parish, Sutton and pastoral care at Hospice Georgina which provides non-medical support for those facing serious illness, end-of-life care and grief.

The Diaconate Ordination Mass will be livestreamed at:   https://www.stmichaelscathedral.com/live/. 

The faithful are warmly invited to join our community in prayer for these newly ordained Permanent Deacons as they begin their ministry in loving service to the Lord.