Deacon candidates installed as acolytes Sept. 12

In June 2022, 48 men scheduled to be ordained deacons to serve in parishes

Published: September 18, 2020

Malea Hargett

Chris Dorer of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Little Italy kneels before Bishop Anthony B. Taylor during the Rite of Institution of Acolytes Sept. 12 at Christ the King Church in Little Rock. Dorer accepts a paten from the bishop to show his closer connection to the Eucharist and to bringing the bread of life to God’s people.

Malea Hargett

Forty-eight men took the next step Sept. 12 in their formation to become permanent deacons. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor installed them as acolytes during a private Mass at Christ the King Church in Little Rock. Diaconate formation director Father Erik Pohlmeier introduced each man, and then Bishop Taylor presented each new acolyte with a paten to symbolize the service the acolyte can provide during Mass. As acolytes, they will serve during liturgies, help distribute holy Communion and purify sacred vessels.

The men are scheduled to be ordained deacons in June 2022. Sixty-nine men entered the diaconate formation program in 2017.

Central Arkansas

• Benton, Our Lady of Fatima: Dan Cartaya and Ron Lee

• Conway, St. Joseph: Juan Argueta and Calvin Pearcy

• Little Italy, St. Francis of Assisi: Chris Dorer

• Little Rock: Juan Mares, St. Theresa; Marc Rios, Cathedral of St. Andrew; Thomas Cannon, Greg Donaldson, Joe Lukacs, Jerome Ngundue, Randy Spellins, John Suskie and Angelo Vopli, Christ the King; and Jim Goodhart and Ted Saer, Our Lady of the Holy Souls

• Morrilton, Sacred Heart: Peter Post

• North Little Rock, Immaculate Conception: Ed Sweeden

Southwest Arkansas

• Texarkana, St. Edward: Greg Casteel and Leon Pesek

Southeast Arkansas

• Pine Bluff, St. Joseph: Garry Boccarossa

• Stuttgart, Holy Rosary: Greg Fisher

Northwest Arkansas

• Fayetteville, St. Joseph: Jason Pohlmeier

• Fort Smith: Jaime Flores and Brad Brown, St. Boniface; Candelario Galvan, Bill Curry, Immaculate Conception

• Mountain Home, St. Peter the Fisherman: Robert Wochner

• Paris, St. Joseph: Larry Fox

• Rogers, St. Vincent de Paul: Sergio Aguilar, Fabio Cruz, Arturo Hernandez, Rob Brothers, Dan Grelle, Larry Grelle, Ken Hunter, Byron Newton and Tom Parks

• Siloam Springs, St. Mary: Moises Colon

• Springdale, St. Raphael: Eduardo Andrade, Oscar Lopez, Luis Sanchez and Rob Phillips

• Yellville, St. Andrew: George Gussy

Northeast Arkansas

• Engelberg, St. John: David Helms

• Jonesboro, Blessed Sacrament: Bob Bennett and Marty Huss

• Pocahontas, St. Paul: Henry Gross

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