This​​ Saturday, June 18 at 10 a.m., 20 men​ will be ordained permanent deacons in service to the Archdiocese of Toronto. Their ministry begins in Toronto’s St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, but will extend far beyond the walls of any church.

The assignments for these new deacons reflect the diverse ways the Church is engaged in society: serving the poor in soup kitchens, like St. Francis Table and Ripples of Kindness, and in food and clothing banks; accompanying the sick and dying in hospitals; and assisting those with intellectual disabilities. Other deacons will support former prisoners through the Friends of Dismas ministry and provide pastoral care to itinerant workers through the Apostleship of the Seas.

The Mass and ordination ceremony will be presided over by Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto. You can view the ordination via the cathedral’s livestream. 

Permanent deacons​ serve the Church by assisting the archbishop and priests of the diocese. Their roles are to be focused on charitable work in the community, as well as ministering in parishes and schools, including serving directly at the altar - they have the liturgical authority to baptize children, witness marriages and preside at funerals.

In 1967, following the Second Vatican Council, the Roman Catholic Church reintroduced the permanent diaconate program. Unlike transitional deacons, permanent deacons are not studying to become priests - once ordained, they remain deacons for the rest of their lives. Since 1972, St. Augustine’s Seminary in Scarborough has provided the formation program for 315 diaconal candidates and their wives who are serving in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Nearly 150 deacons are currently in active ministry. The program involves one year of prayer and discernment and four years of formation and theological study.

To learn more about the permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese of Toronto, please click here.

The class of 2022 represents a diverse range of backgrounds and professions:

• Selwyn Athayde, St. Margaret D’Youville, Brampton – Husband to Lorin and father of 3, customs broker for a large courier company.
• James Bell, St. Leonard’s, Brampton – Husband to Sally and father of 4 children, production specalist.
• Gerardo Cruz, St Bartholomew’s, Scarborough – Husband to Adoracion and father of 3 children, works in the real estate industry.
• Kevin Daudlin, Precious Blood, Scarborough – Husband to Gigetta and father of 2 children, works in a funeral home.
• Nicholas Daunt, Holy Redeemer, Pickering – Husband to Teresa and father  of 2 children, product manager.
• Ryan Fernandes, St. Frances Xavier – Husband to Maria and father of 2 children, works for a courier company.
• Gordon Lee, St. Mark’s, Stouffville – Husband to Mary and father of 1 child, retired university professor.
• Peter Lee, St. Aidan’s, Scarborough – Single and retired.
• Vincent Lim, St. Andrew Kim, North York – Husband to Sonhee and father of 1 child, works as a lawyer.
• Aladin Matinong, St. Andre Bissette, Maple – Husband to Marlene and father of 2 children, works as a structural engineer.
• Roy Mayo, St. Clare of Assisi, Woodbridge – Husband to Gladys and father  of 3 children, land surveyor.
• Richard Noronha, St. Francis of Assisi, Mississauga – Husband to Maria and father of 4 children, medical systems firm.
• Cirille Nyeck, Assomption de Notre- Dame, Oshawa – Husband to Pauline and father of 3 children, corporate coach.
• Domenic Rinaldi, Our Lady Queen of the World, Richmond Hill – Husband to Mary and father of 3 children, investment funds manager.
• Robert Sansone, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Mississauga – Husband to Diane and father of 2 children, dentist.
• Daniel Slat, St. Anthony of Padua, Brampton – Husband to Susan and father of 2 children, sales professional.
• Sergio Spadafora, St. Charles Borromeo, Toronto – Husband to Giulia and father of 2 children, communications.
• Cristopher Sutton, Holy Family, Bolton – Husband to Victoria and father of 6 children, funeral director.
• Francis Vaz, St. Timothy’s, North York – Widower and father to 3 children, high school teacher.
• Bruno Vitetta, Merciful Redeemer, Mississauga – Husband to Tina, warranty administrator.