Many of the permanent deacons of the Paterson Diocese looked to St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr, for inspiration in their ministries in the Church on Aug. 9 during a Jubilee for Deacons retreat. The event was held at St. Elizabeth University in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J.
About 120 active and retired deacons, diaconate candidates, aspirants, and their spouses attended the retreat, which was part of the diocese’s celebration of the Year of Hope 2025, observed by the Universal Church. The event occurred on the eve of the feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr, an example of a deacon dedicated to his bishop and his ministry of charity.
One participant was Deacon Eugenio Morales of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Clifton, N.J. He said the talks at the Jubilee event were “friendly reminders of who we are and what we need to be doing.”
“We are instruments of God. We need to imitate Jesus who said, ‘I have come to serve, not to be served,'” said Deacon Morales, 75, who celebrates 20 years as a deacon. He also served the former St. George Parish in Paterson, N.J.
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined the participants for some of the presentations and served as the main celebrant and homilist for a Mass that concluded the retreat. The liturgy was held in the Holy Family Chapel on the campus of St. Elizabeth, which the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth run.
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“The retreat was a wonderful opportunity to pray together as deacons with our Bishop Kevin. We reflected on our bond with him and with the diocese and on our charism of charity of serving the diocese, all modeled by St. Lawrence,” said Deacon William Ruane, who serves St. Matthew the Apostle Parish in Randolph, N.J. and is director of the diocesan Permanent Diaconate.
Today, Paterson has 88 active deacons, 35 retired deacons living in the diocese, and 50 deacons, most of whom are retired, living outside the diocese. Eight candidates in formation anticipate being ordained next year. Fourteen men will start classes in either English or Spanish for the anticipated 2029 ordination class.
The featured speaker on Aug. 9 was Deacon Jim Keating, who talked about “The Deacon at the Altar and in the Culture.” He is a spiritual theology professor at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. He has been a popular lecturer for over 30 years. Deacon Keating has authored or edited 28 books on spirituality, morality, and clerical formation.
Deacon Peter Cistaro of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany spoke about “The Deacon as a Minister of Charity.” He served as director of the Permanent Diaconate from 2014 to 2024.
Father Pawel Tomczyk, a diocesan priest, spoke about “Ongoing Human Formation of the Deacon.” He serves on the academic faculty and the formation faculty of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange, N.J.. He is the seminary’s pastoral formation director.
The Jubilee of Deacons ended with an evening reception and barbecue at St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison.
In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told the deacons, “This retreat helps us realize how blessed we are to spend time in conversation with Jesus.”
