Soon, 11 men from across the Diocese of Venice will each kneel before Bishop Frank J. Dewane and be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate.
The ordination is at 10 a.m., May 31, 2025, at St. Agnes Parish, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. During the process to become a Permanent Deacon, the 11 men have received training in theology, canon law and pastoral ministry, a discernment and study process that has taken five years.
The men to be ordained are: Richard E. Dahn, St. Agnes Parish; Richard A. Hellenbrand, St. Andrew Parish, Cape Coral; Thomas A. Januszka, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, Parrish; Stephen L. Jendrysik, Incarnation Parish, Sarasota; James N. Jenkins, St. William Parish, Naples; Ramon R. Kanacheril, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Fort Myers; Mark A. Osterhaus, St. Agnes Parish; Orlando A. Rubiano, St. Vincent de Paul Parish; Jeff Tenbarge, St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Naples, John-William M. Trainer III, St. Peter the Apostle Parish; and Edward J. Watson, Ave Maria Parish, Ave Maria.
As part of their formation process, each man was admitted by Bishop Dewane as acolytes in 2024 to assist priests and other Permanent Deacons on the altar during Mass. Prior to that, they were admitted as candidates when they publicly declared their intention of becoming Deacons and the Bishop accepted them. They were also instituted as lectors so they could proclaim the Gospel.
To a man, they describe their journey toward ordination as both a challenging and life-changing process which started with answering a call from the Lord they heard deep in their heart. Each also credits their wife and children for supporting and accompanying them on this journey of enlightenment.
The mission of a Permanent Deacon in the Church is to: serve as a minister of charity, address the needs of others and strive to meet those needs; serve as ministers of the Word, when they proclaim the Gospel, preaching and teaching; serve as ministers of the Sacrament of Baptism; witness marriages; conduct wake and graveside services; and lead the faithful in prayer.
All are invited and encouraged to attend. The livestream of the Ordination will be available at https://www.facebook.com/StAgnesNaples, and stagnesnaples.org.
