Deacon jubilarians give thanks for years of baptisms, weddings and funerals, among other forms of Christian service

DETROIT — Forty one permanent deacons celebrated milestone anniversaries of service to God's Church on Nov. 17 at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving for the deacons and their wives, who gathered to reflect on the many years of baptisms, weddings, funerals and moments of grace given to them in the permanent diaconate.

Three of the deacons were celebrating 45 years of ordination; between them, the deacons marked 825 years of sharing Christ's Gospel with the world.

Here are the deacons marking jubilees in 2019:

45 years

Deacon Rafael Jimenez

Deacon Jimenez, 83, of Canton, began his ministry beside his wife, Margarita, when he was ordained Jan. 19, 1974. He served at St. Hedwig Parish in Detroit (later St. Francis D'Assisi-St. Hedwig), and St. Stephen/Mary, Mother of the Church. He is currently a senior deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deacon Robert E. Herta

Deacon Herta, 83, of St. Clair Shores, began his ministry alongside his wife, Joyce, when he was ordained June 15, 1974. He served at St. Lucy Parish in St. Clair Shores, and is currently a senior deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deacon Robert Goetz

Deacon Goetz, 81, of Chelsea, began his ministry beside his wife, Judith, when he was ordained Dec. 29, 1974. He is currently a senior deacon.

40 years

Deacon Brian Carroll

Deacon Carroll, 78, of Beverly Hills, began his ministry beside his wife, Anne, when he was ordained June 9, 1979. He served at St. Regis Parish in Bloomfield Hills; Our Lady of La Salette Parish in Berkley; and St. Mark Parish in Warren. He is currently a senior deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deacon Donald J. Cox

Deacon Cox, 77, of Almont, began his ministry beside his wife, Sandra, when he was ordained June 9, 1979. He served at St. Cornelius Parish in Dryden and St. John the Evangelist Parish in Allenton. He is currently a senior deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deacon Rudolph Piro

Deacon Piro, 90, of Livonia, was ordained to the permanent diaconate on June 9, 1979. He served at St. Genevieve Parish and St. Maurice Parish in Livonia, and later at the merged parish of St. Genevieve-St. Maurice Parish, where he currently serves.

35 years

Deacon Robert Modes

Deacon Modes, 83, of Redford, began his ministry beside his wife, Janice, when he was ordained June 9, 1984. He served at St. Mel Parish in Dearborn and St. John Bosco Parish in Redford and is currently a senior deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deacon Harry Friend

Deacon Friend, 88, of Empire, Mich., began his ministry beside his wife, Rosie, when he was ordained June 15, 1984. He currently ministers in the Diocese of Gaylord.

30 years

Deacon John Henry Ball

Deacon Ball, 81, of Madison Heights, began his ministry beside his wife, Faith, when he was ordained Oct. 7, 1989. He served at St. Rene Goupil Parish in Sterling Heights; St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Madison Heights; St. James Parish in Ferndale; St. Thomas More Parish in Troy; and the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. 

Deacon Alexander H. Jablonowski

Deacon Jablonowski, 69, of Lake Orion, began his ministry beside his wife, Charlene, when he was ordained Oct. 7, 1989. He served at St. Daniel Parish in Clarkston; Christ the Redeemer Parish in Lake Orion; St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills; and St. Kieran Parish in Shelby Township.

Deacon Eugene A. Tombler

Deacon Tombler, 89, of Warren, began his ministry beside his wife, Grace, when he was ordained Oct. 7, 1989. He has ministered at Guardian Angels Parish in Clawson and is now a senior deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

25 years

Deacon Donald E. Sandstrom

Deacon Sandstrom, 76, of Sterling Heights, began his ministry beside his wife, Patricia, when he was ordained Oct. 15, 1994. He ministered at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Detroit and St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Shelby Township, and is now a senior deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deacon Richard T. Smith

Deacon Smith, 79, of Fountain Hills, Ariz., began his ministry alongside his wife, Diane, when he was ordained Oct. 15, 1994. He ministered at St. William Parish in Walled Lake and is currently a senior deacon.

20 years

Deacon Michael P. O'Keefe

Deacon O'Keefe, 72, of Clinton Township, began his ministry alongside his wife, Roseann, when he was ordained Oct. 1, 1999. He ministered at St. Athanasius Parish in Roseville and St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in St. Clair Shores, where he still serves today. 

Deacon Raul Feliciano

Deacon Feliciano, 82, of Detroit, began his ministry beside his wife, Flor, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 1999. He served at Ste. Anne Parish in Detroit and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Detroit, where he remains today.

Deacon Joseph A. Hulway

Deacon Hulway, 67, of Almont, began his ministry beside his wife, Jennifer, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 1999. He served at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Lake Orion; Sacred Heart Parish in Imlay City; SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Sterling Heights; and Immaculate Conception Parish in Lapeer, where he remains today.

Deacon Marion Jurewicz

Deacon Jurewicz, 79, of Sterling Heights, began his ministry beside his wife, Yvonne, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 1999. He served at St. Clement Parish and St. Martin de Porres Parish in Warren, where he remains today.

Deacon Gary Meerschaert

Deacon Meerschaert, 61, of Clinton Township, began his ministry alongside his wife, Teresa, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 1999. He served at St. Louise de Marillac Parish in Warren; St. Rene Goupil Parish in Sterling Heights; the St. John's Deaf Center in Warren; and St. Francis of Assisi-St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Ray Township, where he remains today.

Deacon Donald Paul Quigley

Deacon Quigley, 74, of Long Lake, began his ministry alongside his wife, Punay, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 1999. He served at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Northville and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Farmington, where he remains today.

Deacon Lee A. Smith

Deacon Smith, 85, of St. Clair Shores, began his ministry beside his wife, Roberta, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 1999. He served at St. Angela Parish in Roseville; St. Athanasius Parish in Roseville and St. Isaac Jogues Parish in St. Clair Shores, where he remains today.

15 years

Deacon Kevin M. Breen

Deacon Breen, 60, of Livonia, began his ministry alongside his wife, Sheila, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 2004. He served at St. Genevieve Parish in Livonia, later St. Genevieve-St. Maurice Parish in Livonia, where he still ministers. He also serves as associate director of permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deacon Frederick F. Burrell

Deacon Burrell, 76, of Livonia, began his ministry alongside his now-late wife, Mary Lou, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 2004. He served at St. Raphael Parish in Garden City, later St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Garden City and is currently a senior priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deacon Stephen Bussa

Deacon Bussa, 81, of Dearborn, began his ministry beside his wife, Carol, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 2004. He ministered at Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn, St. Sebastian Parish in Dearborn, and St. Alphonsus-St. Clement Parish in Dearborn, where he remains today. 

Deacon Henry J. Kibit Jr.

Deacon Kibit, 69, of Dearborn, began his ministry beside his wife, Janice, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 2004. He served at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Wyandotte; St. Albert the Great Parish in Dearborn Heights; and St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Newport, where he still serves today.

Deacon Paul Lippard

Deacon Lippard, 64, of Warren, began his ministry beside his wife, Patricia, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 2004. He served at St. Gertrude Parish in St. Clair Shores; St. Mark Parish in Warren; Sacred Heart Parish in Roseville; St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills; and Resurrection Parish in Canton, where he remains today.

Deacon Lawrence Lee Ruehlen

Deacon Ruehlen, 75, of St. Clair Shores, began his ministry beside his wife, Roseanne, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 2004. He served at St. Malachy Parish in Sterling Heights; St. Isaac Jogues Parish in St. Clair Shores; St. Clare of Montefalco Parish in Grosse Pointe Park; and St. John Vianney Parish in Shelby Township, where he still ministers today.

Deacon Vincent R. Small

Deacon Small, 74, of Farmington Hills, began his ministry beside his wife, Jody, when he was ordained Oct. 2, 2004. He currently ministers at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth.

10 years

Deacon Stanley Jerome Avery

Deacon Avery, 70, of Macomb Township, began his ministry alongside his wife, Ramona, when he was ordained Oct. 3, 2009. He has ministered at St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Warren and St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families Parish in Warren, where he remains today.

Deacon Chris Joseph Booms

Deacon Booms, 57, of Milford, began his ministry beside his wife, Teresa, when he was ordained Oct. 3, 2009. He currently ministers at St. Joseph Parish in South Lyon.

Deacon Oscar Anthony Brown

Deacon Brown, 74, of Bloomfield Hills, began his ministry alongside his wife, Maria, when he was ordained Oct. 3, 2009. He currently ministers at St. Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills.

Deacon Gregory Formanczyk

Deacon Formanczyk, 67, of Rochester Hills, began his ministry beside his wife, Karen, when he was ordained Oct. 3, 2009. He currently serves at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Troy.

Deacon Alan Robert Gwozdz

Deacon Gwozdz, 64, of Marysville, began his ministry beside his wife, Marilyn, when he was ordained Oct. 3, 2009. He has served at St. Augustine Parish in Richmond and Holy Family Parish in Memphis, where he still ministers today.

Deacon Dennis Anthony Loffreda

Deacon Loffreda, 67, of Macomb, began his ministry beside his wife Brigid, when he was ordained Oct. 3, 2009. He has served at St. Francis of Assisi-St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Ray Township and St. Hubert Parish in Harrison Township, where he remains today.

Deacon John Gordon Malloy Jr.

Deacon Malloy, 72, of Trenton, began his ministry alongside his wife, Gayle, when he was ordained Oct. 3, 2009. He currently serves at St. Roch Parish in Flat Rock.

Deacon Michael Gerard Stewart

Deacon Stewart, 65, of Monroe, began his ministry beside his wife, Karin, when he was ordained Oct. 3, 2009. He has served at St. John the Baptist Parish in Monroe and St. Mary Parish in Monroe, where he remains today.

Deacon Joseph Urbiel

Deacon Urbiel, 66, of Farmington, began his ministry alongside his wife, Clarice, when he was ordained Oct. 3, 2009. He currently serves at Christ the King Parish in Detroit. 

5 years

Deacon Christopher James Beltowski

Deacon Beltowski, 49, of Bloomfield Hills, began his ministry alongside his wife, Sharon Rae, when he was ordained Oct. 4, 2014. He currently serves at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Beverly Hills.

Deacon Paul Richard Nickels

Deacon Nickels, 56, of Clarkston, began his ministry beside his wife, Susan Mary, when he was ordained Oct. 4, 2014. He currently serves at St. Mary Parish in Milford. 

Deacon Christian Adam Remus

Deacon Remus, 72, of Detroit, began his ministry alongside his wife, Ruth, when he was ordained Oct. 4, 2014. He currently serves at Christ the King Parish in Detroit. 

Deacon Thomas Christopher Sliney

Deacon Sliney, 61, of Troy, began his ministry alongside his wife, Ann, when he was ordained Oct. 4, 2014. He currently serves at St. Andrew Parish in Rochester.

Deacon Kevin Clark Tietz

Deacon Tietz, 60, of Troy, began his ministry alongside his wife, Denise Marie, when he was ordained Oct. 4, 2014. He currently serves at Our Lady of Grace (Vietnamese) Parish in Warren.