Called to Serve

Our Diocese rejoices this Saturday, June 20, when His Excellency, Bishop David O’Connell, will ordain six men as deacons at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold. Among these is Rjoy Ballacillo, a seminarian, who will serve as a “transitional” deacon before his anticipated ordination as a priest next spring. The other five candidates will minister as “permanent deacons.”

John Edward Barrett
St. Martha, Pt. Pleasant

Russell David Greiner
St. Joseph, Toms River

Mark D. McNulty
St. Catherine-St. Margaret, Spring Lake

John Senkewicz
St. Leo the Great, Lincroft

Edward Woram
St. Joseph, Toms River

These soon-to-be-ordained permanent deacons come from a variety of backgrounds and professional careers and are married with families. They have completed a five-year program of formation, and, upon their Ordination, will be assigned to parish ministry, for which they may preach, assist at the liturgy, and preside over Weddings, Baptisms, Rites of Christian Burial, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Due to the pandemic restrictions on large gatherings, attendance will be by ticketed invitation only. However, the Masses will be livestreamed and can be viewed on YouTube.com/trentondiocese, or the homepages of DioceseofTrenton.org and TrentonMonitor.com. Look for an Ordination preview in the June issue of The Monitor Magazine and on TrentonMonitor.com, and watch for full coverage coming in July.