Details, from the diocesan website:
On Saturday, May 20, in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., ordained 15 men to the Permanent Diaconate and one man to the Transitional Diaconate for the Diocese of Fall River.
Those ordained Permanent Deacons are James “Gus” Adams, St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish, Falmouth; Jeremias Carranza, Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish, New Bedford; Richard Fish, Christ the King Parish, Mashpee; David “Dave” Gaspar, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Swansea; Tyrone Gonsalves, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Leonard Guyette, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Philip Koch, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Orleans; David Laird, Christ the King Parish, Mashpee; Thomas Martin, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Joseph Martino, St. John Neumann Parish, East Freetown; Americo Miranda, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Westport; John O’Brien, St. Mary Parish, Mansfield; David Roderick, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Shawn Seybert, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Attleboro; and Scott Taveira, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish, New Bedford.
These men are members of the tenth class to be ordained as permanent deacons in the Diocese of Fall River. Fourteen of the men are married and many have children; one is single. They work or have worked in a variety of occupations.
Ordained a transitional deacon is Bryan Bangs, a member of Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich. This spring, he is completing his third year of theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary in New Jersey.
By virtue of their ordination, transitional deacons and permanent deacons assist the priests and bishops in the celebration of the Mass as ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, in proclaiming the Gospel, and by preaching. They also assist at and bless marriages, can preside over funerals and wake services, and are dedicated to various ministries and works of charity in living out their call to service.
“Fifteen men began what seemed to them at the time a long and seemingly impossible journey, the road to permanent diaconate,” said Father Robert A. Oliveira, who along with Deacon Frank R. Lucca is a co-director of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese.
“How could they possibly fulfill all the expectations and requirements of a five-year process of formation? Balancing family life, work obligations and now evening classes, workshops, evaluations, ministerial service projects and the added challenge of confronting a worldwide pandemic, climbing the mountain of diaconate service seemed just impossible! But these faithful men have climbed the mountain. Soon as permanent deacons they will be asked to return to the valley of service and face new demands as ordained ministers of word, liturgy, and charity.
“Their journey was more than an individual effort but was an adventure of companionship. Open to God’s spirit, living a faith filled friendship with the Lord, they listened and have boldly said: ‘I will follow you, Lord!’”
Deacon Lucca added, “It has been a wonderful experience to witness the growth, joy and enthusiasm of the men in diaconate formation over the past five years despite having several years of their formation moved totally online due to the COVID – 19 pandemic. ”
Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!
