Congrats to our newly ordained deacons, including our
Director of Campus Ministry Matt Harley and Padua dad Chris DePenti. They and
two others were ordained by Bishop Nelson Perez as permanent deacons for
service to the Diocese of Cleveland during a liturgy on Saturday, May 4, 2019
at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland.
Deacon Harley will minister at St. John Bosco Parish in
Parma Heights. Deacon DePenti will minister at St. Augustine Parish in
Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood.
Deacons have a three-fold ministry of word, altar and charity. Their ministry is one of service and they are charged with performing works of charity, according to the Diocese.
The newly ordained deacons completed five years of
preparation including one year of aspirancy and four years of formation. Their
duties include assisting the bishop and priests of the diocese at the
Eucharist, distributing Holy Communion, witnessing and blessing marriages,
proclaiming the Gospel and preaching, presiding at funerals and engaging in
ministries of charity.
