. Sarah and Stewart I. Adams Immaculate Conception, Highland Park Susan and Robert W. Arvidson St. Francis de Sales, Lake Zurich Steven A. Baldasti St. Hubert, Hoffman Estates Alfred T. Bouey Our Lady of Sorrows, Chicago Carolyn and David L. Brothers St. Agnes, Chicago Heights Rameau Buissereth Our Lady of Peace, Chicago Roberta and Davis Fair Presentation, Chicago Sharon and James F. Gaughan St. Edna, Arlington Heights Sueann and William T. Karstenson Jr. St. Thomas of Villanova, Palatine Nancy and Scott J. Keenan St. Peter, Antioch Janice and Laurence D. Keogh St. Alphonsus, Lemont Mary Sharon and Richard F. Kulleck Most Holy Redeemer, Evergreen Park Beth Ann and Salvatore A. Lema St. Fabian, Bridgeview Teresita and John J. Macarol Our Lady of the Woods, Orland Park Cheryl and Edward J. Melton Holy Cross, Deerfield Peter and Nancy Morrissey St. Leonard, Berwyn LaCinda and Andrew M. Neu St. Barnabas, Chicago Sandra L. and Robert L. Ochsner Our Lady of Humility, Zion Rodrigo A. Ranola St. Isaac Jogues, Niles Mary Ann and James C. Renwick St. Ann, Lansing Paul D. and Paulette Schmidt St. James, Arlington Heights

Archdiocese ordains 21 new deacons

On Sunday, May 20, 21 men will be ordained deacons for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

On Monday, May 21, most of those men will turn up for their other jobs. The 21, ranging in age from 38 to 77, are headed for a busy lifestyle.

The men, who have just completed four years of study for the diaconate, are employed in a variety of work. They include a college professor, a graphic artist, a banking systems analyst, a printer, and a chief financial officer. Only four are retired.

Now they will also take on new responsibilities for the archdiocese. “Most will be assigned to their own parishes, but beyond that they will be serving in hospitals, hospices, the Marriage Tribunal, food pantries and shelters,” said Deacon John Pistone, director of the Diaconate Formation Program.

Working alongside them in their efforts will be the wives of 17 of the deacons. “They also make a major contribution,” said Father Edward P. Salmon, vicar for the diaconate community.

The new deacons join the world’s largest diaconate community, 517 active deacons, plus 62 retired deacons. “We had a jump-start on the rest of the world because our first three classes totaled over 200,” said Salmon. “We had a recruiting team that went out to pastors and asked them to personally invite men to consider the program.”

The May 20 ordination will take place at Holy Name Cathedral with Auxiliary Bishop Raymond E. Goedert officiating. Another ordination will be held in November for Spanish-speaking deacons.

For more information on the diaconate, call Deacon John Pistone at (847) 837-4563; for the Spanish-speaking diaconate, call (847) 837-4556.