HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior, Bishop of Harrisburg, ordained 14 men as deacons for the Diocese of Harrisburg on Saturday, September 12, at Saint Patrick Cathedral. These men have been in formation for five years and will serve at various parishes throughout the Diocese.
The diaconate is an order of the Catholic clergy and is open to married and single men. As such, the permanent deacon is a member of the Church’s hierarchy, who is configured to Christ the Servant through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
As ordained ministers of the Church, deacons perform a variety of roles. During Mass, as Ministers of the Word, they can proclaim the Gospel, preach and teach in the name of the Church. As ministers of the Altar, deacons can baptize, lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct wake and funeral services. As ministers of Charity, deacons are leaders in identifying the needs of others and working to match the Church’s resources to meet those needs.
The newly-ordained deacons are the fifth cohort ordained for the Diocese. Previous cohorts were ordained in 1978, 1983, 2010 and 2020. A sixth cohort of permanent diaconate candidates began in August with a period of aspirancy.
The new deacons and their assignments are:
- Deacon Louis E. Carlson, to Deacon, Holy Infant Parish, Manchester.
- Deacon Stephen J. Dietrich, Sr., to Deacon, Saint Patrick Parish, York and Sacred Heart Parish, Spring Grove.
- Deacon Edward DiPilla, to Deacon, Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, Quarryville.
- Deacon Richard B. Druby, to Deacon, Holy Spirit Parish, Palmyra and Tribunal Ministry, Diocese of Harrisburg.
- Deacon Carlos Espinosa, to Deacon, Corpus Christi Parish, Chambersburg.
- Deacon Jeffrey F. Evich, to Deacon, Saint Joseph Parish, Hanover.
- Deacon Rudolph K. Geisler, to Deacon, Cathedral Parish of Saint Patrick, Harrisburg.
- Deacon Michael A. Heidelbaugh, to Deacon, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Enola.
- Deacon Samuel D. Nicola, to Deacon, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Coal Township; Mother Cabrini Parish, Shamokin; and Saint Patrick Parish, Trevorton.
- Deacon Michael P. Nowakowski, to Deacon, Good Shepherd Parish, Camp Hill.
- Deacon Douglas E. Peterson, to Deacon, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Harrisburg.
- Deacon John A. Soubik, to Deacon, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Coal Township; Mother Cabrini Parish, Shamokin; Saint Patrick Parish, Trevorton; and Tribunal Ministry, Diocese of Harrisburg.
- Deacon Mark A. Sullivan, to Deacon, Saint Columba Parish, Bloomsburg and Christ the King Mission, Benton.
- Deacon Michael D. Tafelski, to Deacon, Saint Peter Parish, Columbia and Holy Trinity Parish, Columbia.
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The Diocese of Harrisburg was established on March 3, 1868. It has 88 parishes, 6 missions, 2 communities, 32 Catholic schools, and is home to approximately 201,000 registered Catholics throughout its 15 counties.
