June 1, 2025

Four men ordained permanent deacons for Diocese of Springfield

Regional
Story and photo by Sharon Roulier

SPRINGFIELD – As family, friends and members of the faith community of the Diocese of Springfield looked on, four men processed into St. Michael’s Cathedral, Saturday May 31, ready to serve as permanent deacons. Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne celebrated the special 10 a.m. Mass called the Rite of Ordination of Deacons.

A deacon is called to serve in many different ways in the Catholic Church, said Bishop Byrne in an interview following the Saturday morning ceremony. Deacons assists the priest at the altar; proclaim the Gospel; perform baptisms and marriages; and minister to the sick, those in prison, and the poor.

“But they also serve as models, as people in the community, men in the community, that can show us the joy and love of Christ,” said the bishop. “So I hope that today we didn’t just lay hands, we lit a fire into their hearts to go and build the kingdom in each of their parishes and in this diocese.”

The new permanent deacons are Jesus Pedraza of Springfield, Kevin Kriesak of Westfield, Greg St. Onge of Chicopee and Nelson Rojas of Springfield.  

When these men began their journey through diaconate formation the program was a four -year commitment. However, in response to recent recommendations from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the process was extended to five and a half years. Multiple changes to the earlier curriculum have been made with current academic courses including theology, ecclesiology and scripture taught on-line through the Josephinum Diaconate Institute of the Pontifical College Josephinum.  Additionally, courses aimed at developing the practical aspects involved in serving as a deacon are held in-person and taught by priests, deacons and professors in the Diocese of Springfield.

Not only did these newly ordained deacons need to navigate the changes being made to the formation program, but they persevered in their classes and studies during the Covid pandemic. 

“We should all be very proud and thankful for these men and for the hard work and humble attitude brought forth in their call from God,” said Deacon David Picard, director of the diaconate for the Diocese of Springfield.   “They have consistently shown themselves willing to do what it takes and move forward in their relationship to God and in their service to the people of this diocese.”

During the Rite of Ordination, the bishop calls the candidates forward, and asks each to declare his intention to be obedient to the bishop and his successors. Then the men lie prostrate as a sign of total submission to God as the congregation sings the Litany of Saints.

The bishop then lays his hands on each candidate. After the prayer of consecration, the priest or deacon from each deacon’s parish, helps him put on the stole and dalmatic.

Here are brief biographies of the newly ordained deacons:

Deacon Jesus Pedraza Colon and his wife Jeissa have two children, Christian and Karlean, and are members of Holy Name Parish in Springfield. Deacon Colon is a school bus driver for First Student of Springfield. He will serve at Holy Name Parish in Springfield.

Deacon Kevin Kriesak is a 47-year member of St. Peter and St. Casimir Parish in Westfield. He works as an overnight stocker at Big Y in Westfield. Deacon Kriesak will serve at St. Peter and St.Casimir and Holy Trinity.

Deacon Greg St. Onge has been a member of St. Anne Parish in Chicopee for 50 years. He is a recently retired accountant. He will minister at St. Anne’s.

Deacon Nelson Rojas and his wife Ivelisse have three children, Francheska, Nelson and Alondra and are parishioners of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Springfield. Deacon Rojas is retired. He will serve at Blessed Sacrament.

The late Bishop Joseph Maguire introduced the permanent diaconate Currently, there are 72 active and 25 retired permanent deacons in the diocese. Retired deacons retain their faculties and can continue to serve in their parishes although they are no longer officially assigned.  All deacons play an important role in the life of the Catholic Church as part of the ordained ministry. The bishop calls all deacons to be leaders in all areas of the diocese in parishes and across deaneries. In addition to assisting a priest during Mass, deacons can officiate at the celebrations of the Liturgy of the Hours and at Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Deacons can also bring Viaticum to the dying and preside at funerals and burials. They can be married or unmarried, but cannot marry after they are ordained.

The late Springfield Bishop Joseph F. Maguire introduced the permanent diaconate in the late 1970s and ordained the first permanent deacons in the Diocese of Springfield on Jan. 15, 1983.

Editor’s note – you can watch the entire Ordination celebration at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXGbjnyp89w&t=677s