October 16, 2015 - CALLED TO SERVE – Twelve Men to be Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate*

Boston, MA (October 16, 2015) - Cardinal Seán O’Malley will ordain twelve men to the Order of Permanent Deacon at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 10:00 AM. The ordination will air on CatholicTV.
 
The candidates began their studies in September 2011 when they started attending classes two nights a week.  In addition the candidates met once a month on Saturdays for “Formation” and made two retreats a year, one with their wives and one together with their class.  The men have the option to continue their studies at The Theological Institute at Saint John’s Seminary to complete their Master’s Degree in Theology after ordination. 
 
The Permanent Diaconate Program is open to men between the ages of 35 and 60, married or single, who are called to serve as ministers of the Word, of the Liturgy and of Charity.  There are currently over 200 men serving as Permanent Deacons in the Archdiocese of Boston and over 17,000 men serving across the United States.  In the Boston area, men serve as Chaplains in hospitals and prisons, high schools and on college campuses as well as assist at the liturgies in parishes, administer the sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony and serve in administrative positions in the Archdiocese.  Permanent Deacons in The Archdiocese of Boston have two assignments, one to a parish and a second assignment to a particular department within the Archdiocese.
 
Timothy A.  Booker
Tim Booker and his wife Colleen are members of St. Bridget’s Parish in Abington.  The Booker’s have two daughters, ages 11 and 9, who attend St. Bridget’s School.  Mr. Booker is the Information Systems Manager for Murphy, Hesse, Toomey, and Lehane, LLP.  His wife, Colleen is the parish secretary at St. Bridget’s.  Mr. Booker and his wife are active in the C.A.M.P.S. retreat program as well as the music ministry at St. Bridget’s Parish, where Mr. Booker was a former director for the youth and combined choirs.  Mr. Booker applied to the Diaconate program after living a Cursillo weekend.  On that weekend he was surrounded by priests, deacons, and others closely involved in the Diaconate Formation process who encouraged him to pursue his calling.  Mr. Booker and his wife met on an Emmaus retreat and the revelation of Jesus’ presence in their lives is the foundation of their marriage.  Mr. Booker relates his calling to the diaconate to the meeting of Jesus on the road to Emmaus.  Just as the disciples felt their hearts burning as Jesus walked with them and spoke to them, the Cursillo retreat experience fueled that fire in him as well.
 
Mr. Booker is assigned to Our Lady of the Lake in Halifax and St. Joseph the Worker in Hanson.  Mr. Booker is also assigned to Office of Chaplaincy Programs for the Archdiocese.
 
Paul F.  Carroll
Paul Carroll and his wife Ann are members of St. Theresa Parish in Sherborn.  The Carroll’s have three children, Jaclyn, Paige and Daniel.  Mr. Carroll is a lawyer and works at Fidelity Investments.  Mr. Carroll is pursuing his Master of Arts in Ministry degree.  Mr. Carroll grew up as a member of St. Camillus Parish in Arlington.  Ann and Paul brought up their children at St. Agnes Parish in Arlington and St. Eulalia Parish in Winchester, before moving to Sherborn and joining the St. Theresa community.   The primary influence in Mr. Carroll’s journey of faith was - and continues to be - his wife Ann.  He was also strongly influenced, encouraged and inspired by Father John Sassani, MaryAnn McLaughlin, Father John Grimes and Father Paul Ritt.  Although Mr. Carroll did not know it at the time, a very significant step toward his eventual call to the Diaconate was living his Cursillo weekend in 2005.  Since that weekend he has experienced an ever-increasing desire to share the Good News that is Jesus Christ with those facing emptiness, anxiety or despair. Paul Carroll shared that, “These four years of formation were an incredible grace-filled journey.  The program has allowed me to grow in the knowledge of, and appreciation for, my faith.  The opportunity to interact with so many faith-filled and learned individuals who were willing to teach, guide, and simply share their many gifts with the twelve of us in formation was truly a blessing.” 
 
Mr. Carroll is assigned to Blessed Mother Teresa Church and Holy Family Church and Saint Peter Church in Dorchester and to the Office of Campus Ministry for the Archdiocese. 
 
Nicolas Cruz
Nicolas and Ramona were married in 1975. The couple has six boys, Noel, Nicholas Jr. Carlos, Omar, Raul, and Marcos who were all born in the Bronx and grew up as Yankees fans. The family currently belongs to St. James Church in Haverhill. Nicolas has worked as Spanish Teacher, Master Level Clinician, and Social Worker. Ramona works in The Congregation of the Presentation of Mary in Methuen.  Nicolas’ favorite prayer is The Prayer of St. Francis. For Nicolas the four years of formation were a great experience that has changed his life. 
 
Mr. Cruz is assigned to St. James and St. John Parishes in Haverhill and to the Office of Cultural Diversity for the Archdiocese.
 
Joseph Emmanuel Dorlus
Mr. Dorlus and his wife Marie Cecile Widleine are members of Saint Angela Merici Parish in Boston.  The Dorlus’ have two children, Gaelle and Gidley.  Joseph’s career includes positions as an economist and an accountant as well as time spent working in business administration and also as a Pastoral Associate. His faith journey began at Catholic School in St. Marc Haiti and continued to grow after he and his family joined Saint Angela Merici Parish. Mr. Dorlus understood he was called to the Diaconate from discussion he had with his pastor, Fr. William P. Joy, who approached him more than once to talk about becoming a Deacon.
  
Mr. Dorlus is assigned to Saint Angela Merici Parish in Mattapan and Saint Matthew and Saint Gregory Parishes in Dorchester.  His Diocesan appointment is to the Office of Cultural Diversity.
 
James T.  Kearney
Mr. Kearney and his wife Christine have three children and they are members of St. Mary’s Parish in Wrentham.  Mr. Kearney works as a consultant assisting companies in the areas of Sales, Management and Leadership Development.  Mr. Kearney commented that the four years of formation have been a tremendous gift to him.  He now has a much stronger foundation from which to grow and develop his faith.  The knowledge that he has retained has drawn him closer to Christ and His Church. 
 
Mr. Kearney is assigned to Saint Mary in Wrentham and Saint Martha in Plainville.  His second assignment is to the Office of Family Life.
 
Kelley B. McCormick
Mr. McCormick and his wife Nancy with their four children, Kate, Brien, Mike and Mark belong to St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Dedham.  After 20 years of owning and managing a small business Mr. McCormick left the work force to raise his children.  He grew in his faith through participation in his parish and through his friendships with his parish priests including Bishop John Dooher, Fr. Bill Kelly, Fr. Matthew Williams, Fr. William Lohan, Fr. Paul Sullivan, Fr. Brian Mahoney, and Fr. Christopher Hickey.  Mr. McCormick commented that he wishes that “there was some way to introduce EVERY Catholic in our Archdiocese to the people and the ministries we encountered in our formation that are working every day without fanfare to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around them.”
 
Mr. McCormick is assigned to St. Mary Parish in Dedham and will work in the Pro-Life Office in Braintree. 
 
Jonathan A. Mosely
Jonathan Mosley and his wife, Julia, belong to St. Bernadette Parish in Randolph. 
The Mosley’s have three children, Justin, Joni, and Jennifer and three grandchildren, Brice, Rose and Frances. Mr. Mosley and his wife have both retired from the Massachusetts State Police Department.   Jonathan’s faith journey began at St. Patrick Parish in Roxbury and Deacon John Ego at St. Bernadette Parish helped Jonathan discern his vocation to the Diaconate.  Mr. Mosley understands his call to the Diaconate as a continuation of service for God and the total family of humankind.
 
Mr. Mosley is assigned to St. Mary Parish in Randolph and also to the Office of Diaconal Life and Ministry at the Pastoral Center in Braintree.
 
John P. Murray
John Murray and his wife Elaine are members of the Holy Mother Collaborative which is comprised of St. Mary of the Sacred Heart in Hanover and St. Helen Mother of the Emperor Constantine in Norwell.   John and Elaine have two children, Patrick who is married to Mallory, and Christopher.   John retired from the insurance industry in 2013 and is looking forward to continuing his faith journey serving the Lord as a deacon.  John has been active in the St. Mary’s parish community for over 20 years serving in numerous ministries.  It was during this time that he felt the vocational call and with the help of Father Christopher Hickey and Father Martin Connor acted on this call and started discernment.  John commented that “The love and support of Elaine, family and friends in the parish community have been instrumental in my journey.   The Lord knows us even before we are born. He guides us through the many varied parts of our life with a loving and steady hand.”
 
John is assigned to the Holy Mother Collaborative in Hanover and Norwell and to the Office of Formation for Young Adults.   
 
Charles R.  Rossignol
Charles and Joyce Rossignol belong to Immaculate Conception Parish in Marlborough.  The Rossignol’s have two children, Christopher and Jacqui.  Mr. Rossignol currently works at Walden Behavioral Care in Waltham, MA.  Charles considered entering the diaconate when his children were growing up but put off his decision until, in the course of one particular week, three different deacons suggested that he should consider applying the diaconate. 
The four years of discernment and formation helped Charles connect the dots between what he believes, and why he believes it!  The experience has permeated every aspect of his personal and professional life. 
 
Mr. Rossignol is assigned to Immaculate Conception Parish in Marlborough and also to the Pro-Life Office in Braintree.
  
Jose B. Torres
Mr. Torres and his wife Elva are members of St. Benedict Parish in Somerville.  The Torres’ have two children, Jocelyn, a Physician’s Assistant, and Jose Jr. who is a freshman in college.  Mr. Torres works as a mechanic of construction equipment.  Mr. Torres has found spiritual guidance from Fr. Robert Carr, Fr. Reynaldo Escobar, Fr. Oscar Martin, Fr. Carlos Lopez, and Deacon Marcio Fonseca during his discernment of his vocation to the Diaconate. His call to the Diaconate began with a desire to help people, especially people from different cultures.  Mr. Torres thanks his family for being by his side through this journey and to all his friends from St. Benedict Parish and all the parishes around Somerville, but most importantly he thanks God for this great gift.
 
Mr. Torres is assigned to Saint Benedict Parish in Somerville and to the Office of Cultural Diversity. 
  
Roger F.  Vierra
Roger and Maryann Vierra worship at Holy Mothers’ Collaborative of St. Mary Church in Hanover and St. Helen Church in Norwell.  The Vierra’s have three daughters, Erin (24), Darci (21) and Kristi (13). Mr. Vierra is employed by UBS Financial Services as an Institutional Consultant.  Roger grew up in Barrington, R.I. where he and his family attended Holy Angels Church, Barrington, Rhode Island.  His faith mentors have been his parents and Father Rotundi of Holy Angels Parish. Roger says “My desire to serve as a deacon has been motivated by my close personal relationship with Jesus which has been nourished through the gift of the Holy Spirit, present to me while I experienced significant health challenges throughout my life.”
 
Mr. Vierra is assigned to Holy Mothers’ Collaborative which includes Saint Mary of the Sacred Heart in Hanover and Saint Helen in Norwell and will work in the Office of Campus Ministry.
 
Thomas M. Walsh Jr.
Mr. Walsh and his wife Elaine attend the Church of St. William in Tewksbury in their hometown.  Tom and Elaine have three children.  Mr. Walsh has worked in public Special Education for more than 37 years is currently one of the Educational Team Facilitators in the Lawrence Public Schools.   Elaine is a school nurse leader in the Tewksbury Public Schools. Thomas shared that “My faith journey has been deeply rooted in my work with special needs people.  It has always given me great satisfaction knowing that in serving His people I am doing what He hopes we can all do for others.” 
 
Mr. Walsh is assigned to Saint William Parish in Tewksbury and to the Office of Family Life.
 
On Saturday as Cardinal O’Malley ordains each one of the twelve men through the Sacrament of Holy Orders he will instruct them to, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are.  Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”
 
About the Archdiocese of Boston: The Diocese of Boston was founded on April 8, 1808 and was elevated to Archdiocese in 1875. Currently serving the needs of 1.8 million Catholics, the Archdiocese of Boston is an ethnically diverse and spiritually enriching faith community consisting of 289 parishes, across 144 communities, educating approximately 42,000 students in its Catholic schools and 156,000 in religious education classes each year, ministering to the needs of 200,000 individuals through its pastoral and social service outreach.   Mass is celebrated in nearly twenty different languages each week. For more information, please visit  www.BostonCatholic.org.