On Saturday, May 21, 2011, ten men were ordained by Bishop Joseph Galante to the Order of Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Camden at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Glassboro.
The new deacons are:
– Deacon Paul R. Bubeck, a former manufacturing supervisor and a retired hospitality worker in the casino industry, who is assigned to Holy Trinity Parish, Margate, and will work in Healthcare Ministries.
– Deacon Lawrence S. Farmer, currently Director in the Diocesan Planning Office and former executive in a large manufacturing company, who is assigned to St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Sicklerville, and will serve in the Diocesan Planning Office.
– Deacon Kevin C. Heil, a social studies and English teacher at Gloucester Catholic High School and a retired attorney, who is assigned to St. Bridget University Parish, Glassboro, and will work in Campus Ministry.
– Deacon Joseph A. Kain, Sr., an aviation safety inspector and manager for the FAA, who is assigned to the Church of the Holy Family, Sewell, and will work in Healthcare Ministries.
– Deacon Joseph A. Murphy, former police officer and detective for the district attorney’s office, who is assigned to St. Joseph Church, Sea Isle City, and will work in Prison Ministries.
– Deacon Arnaldo A. Santos, a police detective with the State of New Jersey, who is assigned to the Parish of the Holy Cross, Bridgeton, and will work in Youth Ministries.
– Deacon William M. Slaven, a registered structural engineer for an engineering and construction firm, who is assigned to St. Andrew the Apostle Church, Gibbsboro, and will work in Catholic Charities.
– Deacon James O. Smith, business administrator at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and former special agent for the FBI, who is assigned to the merging parishes of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Glassboro, and Queen of Peace, Pitman, will work in the Office of the Diaconate.
– Deacon Steven Theis, director of strategic development for an electric transmission and distribution company, who is assigned to the Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit, Mullica Hill, and will work in Healthcare Ministries and Diocesan Liturgies.
– Joseph H. Webb, a retired public school educator, teacher, principal and superintendent, who is assigned to the Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit, Mullica Hill, and will work in Healthcare Ministries.
Through the imposition of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit by Bishop Joseph A. Galante, the ten men were ordained. After being called by Deacon Leo McBlain, director of the Office of the Diaconate, the men were presented to the bishop, who affirmed that “we choose these, our brothers for the Order of the Diaconate.”
Next came the Promise of the Elect, where each candidate came forward, placing his hands on the bishop, and promise obedience to the bishop. In the Litany of Supplication, the candidates prostrated themselves in prayer, as a sign of humility.
The laying on of hands and prayer of ordination followed, and the newly ordained were then vested with their stole and dalmatic. Finally, the bishop presented each deacon with a Book of the Gospels, symbolic of their duty to preach the faith in word and deed, and sealed the deacons’ admittance in their ministry with the fraternal kiss.