Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will ordain eight men of diverse backgrounds to the permanent diaconate of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., on Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J.
This class of permanent deacons is the first to be ordained in the diocese since 2023.
The men received their spiritual and pastoral formation through the Paterson Diocese diaconate formation program and received their academic formation in theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange, N.J. Depending on their educational background at the start of formation, the men received a Master of Arts in Theology, and/or a Certificate in Diaconal Studies or a Certificate in Spirituality from the Seminary.
The men to be ordained are: Stephen Deehan of St. Luke Parish in the Long Valley of Washington Township, N.J., Paul DePinto of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park, N.J., Timothy P. Dunmyer of St. Jude Parish in Hopatcong, N.J., James Gillespie of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Mountain Lakes, N.J., Tobi Ippolito of Holy Family Parish in Florham Park, N.J., Tom Kimble of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., Gregory Marchesi of St. Therese Parish in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J., Elmer Lopez Maximo of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway, N.J.
“These are all men of deep faith and spiritual commitment,” said Deacon William Ruane, the director of the diocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate. “They have studied and trained hard these past five years under the direction of the deacons in their formation team, led by Deacon John Mihalko. They will be a tremendous asset to the diocese and we take great joy in seeing them ordained to serve the Church of Paterson,” he said.
A permanent deacon is an ordained minister in the Catholic Church, belonging to the clergy but often married and holding a secular job. As a permanent member of the hierarchy—not on the way to priesthood — he acts as a “servant” to the bishop and pastor, focusing on the ministry of liturgy, word, and charity, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
There are 125 active and retired permanent deacons serving 74 parishes in the diocese. The first were ordained in 1974. Since then, about 340 men have been ordained.
The permanent deacon candidates are:
Stephen Deehan
Stephen Deehan, 59, belongs to St. Luke Parish in Washington Township. His faith journey started as an altar server and continued with years of ministry at St. Luke Parish. The call to pursue the diaconate grew in part from his and his family’s work establishing the St. Luke Food Pantry.
Deehan has been married to his wife, Yvonne, for 32 years, and together they are parents of four children: Patrick, 29, and his spouse, Nikki; Christian, 27; Stephen, 25, and his fiancée, Gillian; and Noelle, 22.
He graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, N.J. and Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. He then earned his doctorate from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–New Jersey Dental School in Newark, N.J.
Deehan has operated a private dental practice in Hackettstown, N.J., for 31 years.
“I look forward to the challenges and blessings of serving God and his Church on the path guided by the Holy Spirit,” Deehan said.
Paul DePinto
Paul DePinto, 57, and his wife, Loren, have been married since 1997 and have lived in Lincoln Park for 25 years as members of St. Joseph Parish.
DePinto earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Rutgers University, a master’s in counseling from Montclair University, a master’s in educational leadership from St. Elizabeth University in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J.
Paul and Loren have two children: Gia, 26, and Alec, 23.
DePinto has worked for Strength For Change private counseling practice as a licensed professional counselor since 2004. He also spent more than 12 years in the public school system, serving as a student assistance counselor, psychology teacher, and vice principal from 2001 to 2014.
Timothy P. Dunmyer
Timothy P. Dunmyer, 61, and his wife Lisa, married for 20 years, serve as lectors, catechists, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at St. Jude Parish in Hopatcong, N.J.
Dunmyer was grand knight and district deputy in the Knights of Columbus. He now belongs to the Hopatcong Knights of Columbus Council 9914.
Dunmyer is a recently retired police lieutenant with 36 years of service in the Livingston Police Department in New Jersey.
James Gillespie
James Gillespie, 60, and Beth, his wife of 30 years, have been members of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Mountain Lakes, N.J., for 30 years. They have three adult children.
At St. Catherine, Gillespie has served as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, a lector, and an usher. He is a member of the Lazarus ministry, the men’s group, and the Blessed Sacrament Society. He also belongs to Knights of Columbus Council 3359, which supports St. Catherine’s and other parishes in the diocese.
In 1984, Gillespie graduated from Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J. He earned an associate’s degree in business administration from the County College of Morris in Randolph.
For many years, Gillespie has worked with his father in a family-owned business in the flooring industry. For the past 28 years, he has also been a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 251. He installs commercial flooring in many hospitals, schools, and corporate office spaces.
About his journey to the permanent diaconate, Gillespie thanked his wife for her encouragement, support, and love. He acknowledged the bond he and his wife have created with the men and their wives in his cohort, “allowing us to be united in our shared love of the Church and our faith.”
“I have been truly humbled by the endless gifts of prayer and support my cohort and I have received during our faith journey,” Gillespie said. “As an ordained minister, I look forward to serving my parish and the Diocese of Paterson. I want to share my love of the faith and the knowledge I have gained during five years of formation,” he said.
Tobi Ippolito
Tobi Ippolito, 58, and his wife, Anne Brauner, married in 1995, belong to Holy Family Parish in Florham Park, N.J., where they are active in several ministries. They live in East Hanover with their three children: Toby, Michael, and Jessica.
Ippolito graduated from DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, N.J, where he met Brauner, and a doctor of medicine from Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School in Newark.
Ippolito completed an internal medicine residency and now practices with RWJ Barnabas Medical Group.
Tom Kimble
Tom Kimble belongs to St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., where he serves as pastoral ministries director and directs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults’ (OCIA) catechesis.
Previously, Kimble was director for Men’s Cornerstone at St. Jude’s, a parish trustee, and Diocesan Ministries Appeal chairman.
Kimble has been married to his wife, Karla, for 32 years; they have three children: Alex, 32, Cassie, 28, and Samie, 26. He is a mechanical Engineer who has been employed with Sealed Air Corporation since 1989.
Gregory Marchesi
Gregory Marchesi, 57, belongs to St. Therese Parish in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J., where he serves as the faith-formation director and co-director of OCIA. He also serves as a lector, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and an acolyte.
For 29 years, Marchesi has been married to his wife, Jennifer; together they have three children: Alexander, 27, Nicholas, 23, and Madison, 21.
Marchesi graduated from Manalapan High School in Englishtown, N.J. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Kean University, where he played men’s soccer and received Second Team honors. Marchesi also earned a certification for teaching of the handicapped from Kean and a master’s degree in education from Marygrove College in 2002.
Marchesi worked 29 years for the Board of Education of West Orange, N.J., before retiring in 2023. There, he coached baseball at various high school levels, concluding his career as the West Orange Boys’ varsity soccer assistant coach. He also coached with the Player Development Academy in Zarephath, N.J., where his team won the Under-19 State Championship.
Elmer Lopez Maximo
Elmer Lopez Maximo, 58, was born and raised in the Philippines and now belongs to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway, N.J. He serves as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, a lector, a liturgical coordinator, and a parish leader. He is also a member of the Rosary Society, the Pro-Life ministry, the Finance Board, and the Pastoral Council.
At the diocesan level, Maximo serves as president of the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries. This group supports the faith formation and community life of Filipinos in our diocese.
Maximo earned a bachelor’s in commerce, specializing in business management, from San Beda College, now San Beda University, in Manila, the Philippines.
For 28 years, Maximo has been senior managing director of HR and administration at Seven Seven Softwares, Inc., an IT and global services company.
Reflecting on his call to the permanent diaconate, Maximo said, “My vocation developed through prayer, service, and love for the Eucharist.”
“Guided by the Blessed Virgin Mary, I learned to trust in God’s will. Through both joy and suffering, I came to see the diaconate as a call to serve as a bridge between the Church and the world,” Maximo said. “With gratitude, holiness, and humility, I offer my life in service to Christ and His people. I trust in His grace,” he said.
8 men to be ordained permanent deacons May 30 #Catholic –
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will ordain eight men of diverse backgrounds to the permanent diaconate of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., on Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J.
This class of permanent deacons is the first to be ordained in the diocese since 2023.
The men received their spiritual and pastoral formation through the Paterson Diocese diaconate formation program and received their academic formation in theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange, N.J. Depending on their educational background at the start of formation, the men received a Master of Arts in Theology, and/or a Certificate in Diaconal Studies or a Certificate in Spirituality from the Seminary.
The men to be ordained are: Stephen Deehan of St. Luke Parish in the Long Valley of Washington Township, N.J., Paul DePinto of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park, N.J., Timothy P. Dunmyer of St. Jude Parish in Hopatcong, N.J., James Gillespie of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Mountain Lakes, N.J., Tobi Ippolito of Holy Family Parish in Florham Park, N.J., Tom Kimble of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., Gregory Marchesi of St. Therese Parish in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J., Elmer Lopez Maximo of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway, N.J.
“These are all men of deep faith and spiritual commitment,” said Deacon William Ruane, the director of the diocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate. “They have studied and trained hard these past five years under the direction of the deacons in their formation team, led by Deacon John Mihalko. They will be a tremendous asset to the diocese and we take great joy in seeing them ordained to serve the Church of Paterson,” he said.
A permanent deacon is an ordained minister in the Catholic Church, belonging to the clergy but often married and holding a secular job. As a permanent member of the hierarchy—not on the way to priesthood — he acts as a “servant” to the bishop and pastor, focusing on the ministry of liturgy, word, and charity, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
There are 125 active and retired permanent deacons serving 74 parishes in the diocese. The first were ordained in 1974. Since then, about 340 men have been ordained.
The permanent deacon candidates are:
Stephen Deehan
Stephen Deehan, 59, belongs to St. Luke Parish in Washington Township. His faith journey started as an altar server and continued with years of ministry at St. Luke Parish. The call to pursue the diaconate grew in part from his and his family’s work establishing the St. Luke Food Pantry.
Deehan has been married to his wife, Yvonne, for 32 years, and together they are parents of four children: Patrick, 29, and his spouse, Nikki; Christian, 27; Stephen, 25, and his fiancée, Gillian; and Noelle, 22.
He graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, N.J. and Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. He then earned his doctorate from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–New Jersey Dental School in Newark, N.J.
Deehan has operated a private dental practice in Hackettstown, N.J., for 31 years.
“I look forward to the challenges and blessings of serving God and his Church on the path guided by the Holy Spirit,” Deehan said.
Paul DePinto
Paul DePinto, 57, and his wife, Loren, have been married since 1997 and have lived in Lincoln Park for 25 years as members of St. Joseph Parish.
DePinto earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Rutgers University, a master’s in counseling from Montclair University, a master’s in educational leadership from St. Elizabeth University in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J.
Paul and Loren have two children: Gia, 26, and Alec, 23.
DePinto has worked for Strength For Change private counseling practice as a licensed professional counselor since 2004. He also spent more than 12 years in the public school system, serving as a student assistance counselor, psychology teacher, and vice principal from 2001 to 2014.
Timothy P. Dunmyer
Timothy P. Dunmyer, 61, and his wife Lisa, married for 20 years, serve as lectors, catechists, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at St. Jude Parish in Hopatcong, N.J.
Dunmyer was grand knight and district deputy in the Knights of Columbus. He now belongs to the Hopatcong Knights of Columbus Council 9914.
Dunmyer is a recently retired police lieutenant with 36 years of service in the Livingston Police Department in New Jersey.
James Gillespie
James Gillespie, 60, and Beth, his wife of 30 years, have been members of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Mountain Lakes, N.J., for 30 years. They have three adult children.
At St. Catherine, Gillespie has served as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, a lector, and an usher. He is a member of the Lazarus ministry, the men’s group, and the Blessed Sacrament Society. He also belongs to Knights of Columbus Council 3359, which supports St. Catherine’s and other parishes in the diocese.
In 1984, Gillespie graduated from Morris Catholic High School in Denville, N.J. He earned an associate’s degree in business administration from the County College of Morris in Randolph.
For many years, Gillespie has worked with his father in a family-owned business in the flooring industry. For the past 28 years, he has also been a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 251. He installs commercial flooring in many hospitals, schools, and corporate office spaces.
About his journey to the permanent diaconate, Gillespie thanked his wife for her encouragement, support, and love. He acknowledged the bond he and his wife have created with the men and their wives in his cohort, “allowing us to be united in our shared love of the Church and our faith.”
“I have been truly humbled by the endless gifts of prayer and support my cohort and I have received during our faith journey,” Gillespie said. “As an ordained minister, I look forward to serving my parish and the Diocese of Paterson. I want to share my love of the faith and the knowledge I have gained during five years of formation,” he said.
Tobi Ippolito
Tobi Ippolito, 58, and his wife, Anne Brauner, married in 1995, belong to Holy Family Parish in Florham Park, N.J., where they are active in several ministries. They live in East Hanover with their three children: Toby, Michael, and Jessica.
Ippolito graduated from DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, N.J, where he met Brauner, and a doctor of medicine from Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School in Newark.
Ippolito completed an internal medicine residency and now practices with RWJ Barnabas Medical Group.
Tom Kimble
Tom Kimble belongs to St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., where he serves as pastoral ministries director and directs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults’ (OCIA) catechesis.
Previously, Kimble was director for Men’s Cornerstone at St. Jude’s, a parish trustee, and Diocesan Ministries Appeal chairman.
Kimble has been married to his wife, Karla, for 32 years; they have three children: Alex, 32, Cassie, 28, and Samie, 26. He is a mechanical Engineer who has been employed with Sealed Air Corporation since 1989.
Gregory Marchesi
Gregory Marchesi, 57, belongs to St. Therese Parish in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J., where he serves as the faith-formation director and co-director of OCIA. He also serves as a lector, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and an acolyte.
For 29 years, Marchesi has been married to his wife, Jennifer; together they have three children: Alexander, 27, Nicholas, 23, and Madison, 21.
Marchesi graduated from Manalapan High School in Englishtown, N.J. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Kean University, where he played men’s soccer and received Second Team honors. Marchesi also earned a certification for teaching of the handicapped from Kean and a master’s degree in education from Marygrove College in 2002.
Marchesi worked 29 years for the Board of Education of West Orange, N.J., before retiring in 2023. There, he coached baseball at various high school levels, concluding his career as the West Orange Boys’ varsity soccer assistant coach. He also coached with the Player Development Academy in Zarephath, N.J., where his team won the Under-19 State Championship.
Elmer Lopez Maximo
Elmer Lopez Maximo, 58, was born and raised in the Philippines and now belongs to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway, N.J. He serves as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, a lector, a liturgical coordinator, and a parish leader. He is also a member of the Rosary Society, the Pro-Life ministry, the Finance Board, and the Pastoral Council.
At the diocesan level, Maximo serves as president of the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries. This group supports the faith formation and community life of Filipinos in our diocese.
Maximo earned a bachelor’s in commerce, specializing in business management, from San Beda College, now San Beda University, in Manila, the Philippines.
For 28 years, Maximo has been senior managing director of HR and administration at Seven Seven Softwares, Inc., an IT and global services company.
Reflecting on his call to the permanent diaconate, Maximo said, “My vocation developed through prayer, service, and love for the Eucharist.”
“Guided by the Blessed Virgin Mary, I learned to trust in God’s will. Through both joy and suffering, I came to see the diaconate as a call to serve as a bridge between the Church and the world,” Maximo said. “With gratitude, holiness, and humility, I offer my life in service to Christ and His people. I trust in His grace,” he said.