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Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain six transitional deacons and two permanent deacons during a 10 a.m. Mass May 18 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. Those ordained as transitional deacons are expected to later be ordained to the priesthood, while permanent deacons will remain deacons. (CR Staff)

Archbishop Lori to ordain six transitional deacons, two permanent deacons


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Catholic Review Filed Under: deacons, Feature, Local News, News, Vocations

Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain six transitional deacons and two permanent deacons during a 10 a.m. Mass May 18 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. Those ordained as transitional deacons are expected to later be ordained to the priesthood, while permanent deacons will remain deacons. The liturgy is open to the public and will be livestreamed on the YouTube page of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.

TRANSITIONAL DEACONS

Pelagio “Jun” R. Guamil Jr.

AGE:  41

HOMETOWN: Juban, Sorsogon, Philippines

HOME OR SPONSORING PARISH: Immaculate Conception, Towson

EDUCATION: Jose G. Alindogan Elementary School, Juban, Sorsogon, Philippines; St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon, Sorsogon City, Philippines; Christ the King Mission Seminary, Quezon City, Philippines; Our Lady of La Salette Seminary, Cavite, Philippines; Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City, Philippines

PASTORAL ASSIGNMENTS: Pastorate of St. Mary of the Assumption, Govans, and St. Pius X, Rodgers Forge; Immaculate Conception, Towson; St. Isaac Jogues, Carney; Pastorate of St. Louis, Clarksville, and St. Francis of Assisi, Fulton

DID YOU KNOW? Guamil was a former friar of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual before becoming a diocesan seminarian and a teacher in several Catholic schools and colleges when he was in the Philippines.

Bienvenu Ilanga

AGE: 47

HOMETOWN: Mbandaka, Equateur, Democratic Republic of Congo

HOME OR SPONSORING PARISH: St. Matthew, Northwood

EDUCATION: E.P. Liboke Moko/IFI (elementary school), Mbandaka; Institut Motey (high school), Mbandaka; St. Augustine College, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; St. Augustine College, Johannesburg, South Africa; Ateneo de Manila/Loyola School of Theology, Manila, Philippines; St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Roland Park; St. Charles Borromeo Philosophical House of Studies, South Africa; St. Charles Borromeo Theological House of Studies, Philippines

PASTORAL ASSIGNMENTS: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Crofton; Pastorate of St. Matthew, Northwood, and Blessed Sacrament, Baltimore; St. Charles Borromeo, Pikesville; and St. Gabriel, Woodlawn

DID YOU KNOW? Ilanga enjoys reading, cooking and teaching. He has worked for seafarers, taught in a high school, worked in a call center and taught faith formation to young people.

James Michael Lancelotta

AGE:  52

HOMETOWN: Ellicott City

HOME OR SPONSORING PARISH: St. Joseph’s Monastery, Baltimore

EDUCATION: Trinity School, Ilchester; Mount St. Joseph High School, Irvington; Baltimore International Culinary College; St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Roland Park

PASTORAL ASSIGNMENTS: Charlestown Retirement Community, Catonsville; St. Peter Claver/St. Pius V/St. Gregory the Great, Baltimore; Franciscan Center, Baltimore; St. Joseph Monastery Parish; St. Joseph, Cockeysville; Pastorate of St. Agnes, Catonsville, and St. William of York, Baltimore

DID YOU KNOW? Lancelotta worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years and was a chef for most of that time.

Shiadrik Mokum

AGE: 28

HOMETOWN: Bamenda, Cameroon

HOME OR SPONSORING PARISH: Holy Family, Davidsonville

EDUCATION: Cameroon Baptist Convention, primary school Nkwen Bamenda; G.B.H.S. Atiela Nkwen (high school); Bishop Rogan Minor Seminary, Buea; St. John Paul II Major Seminary, Bachou Ntai Mamfe and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg

PASTORAL ASSIGNMENTS: Pastorate of St. Agnes, Catonsville, and St. William of York, Baltimore; St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park

DID YOU KNOW? Mokum loves playing soccer, reading, singing, farming and sharing the Word of God.

Alex Mwebaze

AGE: 32

HOMETOWN: Kasese, Uganda

HOME OR SPONSORING PARISH: St. Joseph, Odenton

EDUCATION: Molly and Paul-Kibuye, Uganda; St. John’s Minor Seminary, Kasese, Uganda; Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi, Uganda; Catholic University of East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg

PASTORAL ASSIGNMENTS: St. Joseph, Emmitsburg; St. Stephen, Bradshaw

DID YOU KNOW? Mwebaze loves traveling, cooking and watching and playing sports.

Thomas Patrick O’Donnell

AGE: 30

HOMETOWN: Catonsville

HOME OR SPONSORING PARISH: St. Mark, Catonsville

EDUCATION: St. Mark School, Catonsville; Mount St. Joseph High School, Irvington; Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg; Pontifical North American College, Rome

PASTORAL ASSIGNMENTS: Catholic Community of South Baltimore; St. Ignatius, Hickory; Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Highlandtown; Church of the Resurrection and St. Paul, Ellicott City; Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland; Pastorate of St. Louis, Clarksville, and St. Francis of Assisi, Fulton

DID YOU KNOW? O’Donnell is an Eagle Scout from Troop 456 in Catonsville, and he still enjoys hiking, camping and exploring. He double-majored in English and theology at Loyola, and enjoys reading and discussing good literature. He worked for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office of Pro-Life Activities before entering seminary and had a college internship with Catholic Charities.

PERMANENT DEACONS

Javier Perez

HOME PARISH: St. Athanasius, Curtis Bay

FAMILY: Married to Vivian Perez for 38 years; two children

DIACONAL INTERNSHIPS: Esperanza Center, Baltimore; Catholic Community of South Baltimore

EMPLOYMENT: Owns JVCL Home Improvement, LCC; retired from U.S. Air Force, where he served 22 years as a security policeman. He also worked in the government.

DID YOU KNOW? Perez is a woodworker and mechanic.

“Since converting to Catholicism in 2000, I always wanted to grow more and serve especially in the Mass. As I started my journey as a Catholic, I came across some deacons and, hearing their stories on how they serve, I knew that that was something I wanted to do. As I get closer to becoming a deacon I am looking forward to serving my parishioners in their faith journey. One of the things that my formation has done for me is shown me the importance of serving others.”

Edwin “Ed” Ramos- Echandi

HOME PARISH: St. Patrick, Havre de Grace

FAMILY: Married to Mary Catherine Michael-Ramos for 33 years; three children

DIACONAL MINISTRY: St. Joan of Arc, Aberdeen; Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, Bel Air; St. Mark, Fallston

EMPLOYMENT: Retired teacher, San Antonio Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas; served in U.S. Air Force for eight years

DID YOU KNOW? Ramos is from Puerto Rico. He left the military to enter seminary and study for the priesthood for three years before discerning marriage.

“I love serving at the altar, as lector and doing reflections at Mass. Reflecting on God’s love increases my faith and makes me want to give back. Jesus reveals himself in every person to whom I give Communion, in those I visit at home or in the hospital, and in every face I see at Mass. It inspires me to get to know brothers and sisters in Christ – to see how God works in their lives.” 

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