Bishop Malloy to Ordain 17 Permanent Deacons for the Diocese of Rockford

ROCKFORD, ILL—Most Reverend David J. Malloy will ordain 17 men to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Rockford, Saturday, Sept. 24.

The Mass and Rite of Ordination will begin at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter 1243 N. Church St.

A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came "to serve and not to be served." A permanent deacon serves the diocesan church and is assigned to serve in ministry at specific parishes as needed by the diocesan bishop.

The 2022 class of Permanent Deacons for the Diocese of Rockford includes:

Noel Fajardo Benitez, Rockford; Robert Wayne Buerer, Cary; Gabriel Palacios Castellano, Rockford; David Charles Dollman, Harvard; Mel Gutierrez Gaytan, Woodstock; Shawn Milton Glanville, St. Charles; Steve Ronald Jolly, St. Charles; Ken Stephen McLaughlin, Montgomery; Kevin Michael Nestor, Sterling; Enrique del Carmen Nolasco, Carpentersville; Chris Bradley Olson, Hampshire; Chris Michael Ragsdale, Aurora; Paul Anthony Sanderson, Rockford; Michael James Schneck, Spring Grove; Dean Edward Schroeder, Sugar Grove; Rafael Villagomez, Jr., South Elgin; and Michael Bernt Winger, Sugar Grove.

The ceremony is open to the public with limited seating. It will be livestreamed on the Diocese of Rockford YouTube Channel and Facebook page.