Middlebury Resident Joins Deaconhood

Stephen L. Savarese from will be ordained by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell as a permanent deacon at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 2, at the the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, 140 Farmington Ave., Hartford.

"I look forward to continuing to be of service to the people who I meet everyday," Savarese said in an e-mailed statement to Woodbury-Middlebury Patch. "Upon my ordination as a permanent deacon in the Catholic church, I will have a special role as a member of the clergy in a local parish to help to continue to serve the needs of the community of faith, their relations and interactions to advance the ideals of our faith."

The new deacons will join the other 190 active and retired-active deacons who comprise the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Hartford, according to a press release from the Archdiocese of Hartford.

A permanent deacon is a man who is at least 35 years of age and dedicates his service in the threefold ministry of the Word, of the liturgy and of charity.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Interested in Middlebury and Woodbury's news, events, community bulletins, blogs and businesses? Sign up for the free Woodbury-Middlebury Patch daily newsletter, "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

A deacon may be married — most are — and raising a family or be celibate, the press release stated. More often than not, he will have another career outside of the church.

He has specific responsibilities in assisting the priest in the celebration of the Eucharist, and has other liturgical responsibilities including administering the sacrament of baptism, witnessing marriages, bringing Viaticum to the dying and presiding at liturgies of the Word and Communion services in the absence of a priest. He is particularly called to exercise special works of charity and justice, particularly on behalf of the poor.

"The Deacon is called to be a minister of the Word of God, to join with the faithful in the worship of our Sacred Liturgies and work with all people to alleviate suffering,hunger, effects of poverty and loneliness in whatever form it takes," said Savarese. "I appreciate that I have this opportunity to serve by the support of my wife Meg and our children William, Annmaire and Elizabeth, but also my friends and neighbors in Middlebury that I have known for more than 40 years."

He thanked his parish family at St. John of the Cross, from his days as an altar boy through his days on the Parish Council, Stewardship Committee, as a member and later Grand Knight of the Father Loftus Council 3992 and other lay ministries.

"I look forward to sharing all the wonderful times I have had in Middlebury with the people I will meet in my new role as deacon," said Savarese.

The candidates for the Permanent Diaconate are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Their parishes and towns follow:

• Robert J. Barry from St. Patrick, Farmington
• Salvatore F. Fusco, Jr. from Mary Our Queen, Plantsville
• Alan A. Germain from St. Catherine, Broad Brook
• Peter R. Hyde from Saint Patrick, Collinsville
• Edward Kensah, from Saint Mary, East Hartford
• Robert A. Magnuson from Saint Francis, New Haven
• John F. Mordecai from Our Lady of the Assumption, Woodbridge
• Stephen L. Savarese from St. John of the Cross Church, Middlebury
• Mark J. Stevens from Blessed Sacrament, Waterbury
• Henry J. Szumowski from Saint Margaret Mary, South Windsor
• James F. Tanguay from Saint Mary, Newington
• Richard J. Wisniewski from Saint Matthew, Forestville

According to the Director of the Office of Formation for the Diaconate Deacon Robert Pallotti, becoming a permanent deacon requires five years of theological, pastoral and spiritual study.

The archdiocese has close to 40 men enrolled in the Permanent Diaconate program who are in various stages of their studies.

 The Rev. Aidan N. Donahue, who oversees the formation study of the candidates, said the Archdiocese of Hartford is blessed to have these men.

"They are responding to a call from God," he said. "These are great, quality men, who have families and careers and want to give back to their church communities."

For more information on the Permanent Diaconate, contact 860-761-7447.