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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