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Deacon Ordinations

On May 18, Bishop Boyea ordained 16 men to the diaconate. The ordination Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in East Lansing was filled with more than 1,000 worshippers, along with more than 100 Diocese of Lansing priests and deacons. Four of the deacons were ordained to the transitional diaconate – they are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood next year. They are:

Deacon Todd Koenigsknecht, Most Holy Trinity Parish, Fowler, son of Agnes and Brian Koenigsknecht. Deacon Koenigsknecht attends Sacred Heart Seminary, and will serve at St. Mary Parish, Williamston, as a deacon.

Deacon Gary Koenigsknecht, Most Holy Trinity Parish, Fowler, son of Agnes and Brian Koenigsknecht. Deacon Koenigsknecht attends Sacred Heart Seminary and will serve at St. Agnes Parish, Fowlerville, as a deacon.

Deacon James Rolph, Christ the King Parish, Ann Arbor, son of Nancy and John Rolph. Deacon Rolph attends Sacred Heart Seminary and will serve at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Davison, as a deacon.

Deacon William Vincent Richardson, IV Church of the Resurrection, Lansing, son of Joyce and William Richardson. Deacon Richardson attends Sacred Heart Seminary and will serve at St. Mary Student Parish, Ann Arbor, as a deacon.

Twelve men were ordained to the permanent diaconate. They are:

Deacon Randal Desrochers, St. Joseph Parish, Dexter. Deacon Desrochers and his wife, Carol, have four children. He will serve at his home parish.

Deacon David Drayton, St. Thomas/St. John Parish, East Lansing. Deacon Drayton and his wife, Sherri, have four children. He will serve at his home parish with an additional special assignment at St. Vincent Catholic Charities, Lansing.

Deacon David Jansen, St. Pius X Parish, Flint. Deacon Jansen and his wife, Peggy, have three sons. He will serve at his home parish.

Deacon Joseph Jong, St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing. Deacon Jong and his wife, Frances, have three sons. He will serve at his home parish with special assignment to the Chinese community, particularly the Chinese students at Michigan State University.

Deacon Thomas Loewe, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Ann Arbor. Deacon Loewe and his wife, Anna, have five children. He will serve at his home parish.

Deacon John Marsh, St. Isidore Parish, Laingsburg. Deacon Marsh has five children. He will serve at his home parish.

Deacon Michael Martin, St. Mary Parish, Chelsea. Deacon Martin and his wife, Marita, have six children, one of whom is deceased. He will serve at his home parish.

Deacon Mark Millage, St. John the Baptist Parish, Ypsilanti. Deacon Millage and his wife, Marilyn, have three children. He will serve at his home parish.

Deacon John Ozog, Christ the King Parish, Ann Arbor. Deacon Ozog and his late wife, Kathryn, have five children. He will serve at his home parish.

Deacon Kenneth Preiss, St. Pius X Parish, Flint. Deacon Preiss and his wife, Karen, have two children. He will serve at Holy Redeemer Parish, Burton.

Deacon Richard Rymar, St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Flushing. Deacon Rymar and his wife, Joanne, have two children. He will serve at his home parish.

Deacon Devon Wolfe, St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Brighton. Deacon Wolfe and his wife, Erin, have three children. He will serve at his home parish.

Photography by Melissa Norick