The Archdiocese of New York gained five new permanent deacons on Saturday, with Auxiliary Bishop Edmund J. Whalen presiding over the ordination as its principal celebrant, held Saturday, June 21, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Permanent deacons can perform baptisms, marriages, and funerals. They are Catholic clergy who may and are often married and have families, and work in secular occupations.

In his homily, Bishop Whalen noted that the ordination fell not only on the feast day of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, but also on the 100^th anniversary of the beatification of the North American Martyrs, eight Jesuit French missionaries who gave their lives for their faith in the 17^th century.

“Aloysius gave away all his wealth. He didn’t want to be part of the powerful elite. He wanted to be one of the people. So, he made it his personal mission to be like a maintenance worker, to fit in and be available, but to recognize God’s presence in the poorest,” Bishop Whalen said. He mentioned that the saint preferred to be called Luigi, not the name of a nobleman, but a man of the people.

At the Jubilee of Deacons, just weeks before his death, Pope Francis spoke of the role and need for the permanent diaconate. “In that homily, Pope Francis said there are three things to remember – three things to remember about diaconal service: First, forgiveness. Second, selfless service. Third, a source of unity. Pope Francis said to those gathered together for the Jubilee: ‘You are to unite the altar and the street,’” Bishop Whalen said.

Bishop Whalen thanked the families of the men about to be ordained, both for their sacrifice and understanding of their call to service.

In his closing, Bishop Whalen encouraged the five men. “Gentlemen, as you descend in this ordination, remember the North American Martyrs. Remember Luigi Gonzaga, who lived as a plumber, not as nobility – as a servant, a true brother.”

Hundreds of family members, fellow parishioners, and friends attended the Mass. The first reading was delivered in Spanish, and the gospel in English.

After the gospel, the names of each of the five candidates were read aloud. When the candidates were presented as worthy by Monsignor Joseph LaMorte, vicar general for the Archdiocese of New York, Bishop Whalen proclaimed “Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ, we choose these, our brothers, for the order of the diaconate,” followed by applause from those in attendance. Bishop Whalen completed the ordination of each man by laying his hands on their heads.

 The five men ordained were Matthew DiBiase of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Mahopac, Nestor Halpernof Saint Benedict Parish in the Bronx, Walter Krisa of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Shrub Oak, Richard Publik of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Manhattan, and Isaul M. Tobar of Saint Peter and Saint Denis Parish in Yonkers.

Monsignor LaMorte concelebrated the Mass, along with concelebrants that included Father Vincent Druding of Holy Cross Church in the Soundview section of the Bronx.

Richard Publik pursued the permanent diaconate because of “the love of God,” he told The Good Newsroom after the ordination. “It really hasn’t sunk in yet, but I know I felt something when I felt the bishop’s hands on my head.”

There will be a pause before the next diaconate ordination takes place, due to COVID and to allow for the implementation of a new diaconate formation program, Deacon Francis Orlando, director of diaconate formation for the archdiocese, told The Good Newsroom in an interview. “We’re going to have a group come in starting in September for what we call the inquiry year, and then they’ll move from the inquiry year into the four years of formation. So, we’re looking at 2030.” Deacon Orlando said interest in the diaconate program remains high. “We’ve had more than 40 people who have expressed interest,” he said.