Largest-Ever Deacons’ Class Ordained
Twenty-one men were ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Rockford Sept. 27 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford. (Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)
Bishop David Malloy accepts the offertory gifts brought up by the family of newly-ordained Deacon Luis Patiño who will serve as a deacon at St. Rita of Cascia Parish in Aurora. (Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)
Kenneth Giacone, William Johnston, John Huntley and Frank Englert bow to Bishop David Malloy. One at a time, each man pledged respect and obedience to the bishop and his successors. (Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)
One of the final steps of the rite of ordination to the diaconate is the “handing on of the Book of the Gospels” to each of the newly-ordained deacons. (Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)
Armando Regalado kneels before Bishop David Malloy as the bishop lays hands on him in silence before praying the prayer of ordination. Each of the 21 deacons did the same shortly before being vested in the diaconal stole. Deacon Regalado will serve at St. Mary Parish in DeKalb. (Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)
By Amanda Hudson News Editor
October 3, 2014

ROCKFORD—Twenty-one men were ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Sept. 27 at the Cathedral of St. Peter by Bishop David Malloy.

Previously, the largest class to be ordained was 18 men, which happened in 1978 and again in 2001. The first class of deacons, with 15 men, was ordained by Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill in 1975. The newly-ordained group brings the number of deacons of the Diocese of Rockford to a total of 172, 152 of whom are active, including 10 who serve outside the diocese. Including this ordination, the Rockford Diocese has celebrated 22 permanent diaconate ordinations (18 classes and four individual ordinations).

Introducing it as “a moment to rejoice and offer our prayers,” Bishop Malloy noted that he had met many of the men over the past couple of years as they came up to him at various events and introduced themselves as “I’m part of the class of 2014.”

“You are dedicated to God,” he told them. “I ask, I urge and I plead … pray every day … for the Church … the Holy Father … priests … seminarians … (and for) sinners.

“When you preach, teach or simply talk, you are still always consecrated (and) everyone must see your faith is one with the Church.”

The bishop called upon them to love even unto self-sacrifice, and to “ask time and time again, in every situation, ‘How can I help?’” He called upon their wives for their important support, prayer and sacrifices, always “asking God to fill your husbands with faith.”

“Open your hearts, brothers,” Bishop Malloy concluded, “(and) ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in all the days” of your ministry.

The 21 new deacons and their assignments are:
Peter Addotta: St. Anthony Parish, Rockford
Jim Easton: Cathedral of St. Peter, Rockford
Frank Englert: St. Mary Parish, Huntley
Ken Giacone: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Crystal Lake
John Huntley: St. Rita Parish, Rockford
Bill Johnston: St. Mary Parish, Woodstock
Mike Keane: St. Joseph Parish, Harvard
Chuck Loehr, Holy Cross Parish, Stockton
Richard Marcantonio, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Crystal Lake
Ron Meadors, St. Bernadette Parish, Rockford
Luis Patiño, St. Rita of Cascia Parish, Aurora
Ken Ramsey, Holy Cross Parish, Batavia
Paul Ranney, St. Mary Parish, Freeport
Armando Regalado, St. Mary Parish, DeKalb
Jovie Reyes, St. Bridget Parish, Loves Park
Craig Robinson, Church of Holy Apostles, McHenry
George Schramm, St. Patrick Parish, Rochelle
Jason Stewart, Holy Family Parish, Rockford
Mike Timmerman, St. Mary Parish, Sycamore
Jim Ward, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Hampshire
Ken Wasko, SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Cary