PARSIPPANY Bishop Serratelli will ordain 11 diocesan seminarians to the transitional diaconate at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 14 in St. Peter the Apostle Church here. Ordination to the diaconate is the last step before they will be called to the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
The transitional diaconate candidates are: Cerilo Javinez from the Philippines; Michal Dykalski, Marcin Kania, Marcin Nurek, Sylwester Pierzak and Michał Rybinski, all from Poland; and Henry Mauricio Pinto Aviles, Javier Bareño Castillo, Manuel Alejandro Cuellar, Omar Hernandez and Yasid Salas Restrepo, all from Colombia.
A broad congregation of well-wishers — including family, friends, priests and religious of the diocese, members of parishes where the seminarians have served and other supporters and the faithful from around the Diocese — are invited to attend the ordination as a sign of encouragement to the new transitional deacons.
Following are brief biographies on the seminarians:
Henry Mauricio Pinto Aviles
Pinto was born on Dec. 13, 1991 in Guadalupe Huila, Colombia, to Henry Pinto Sanchez and Mercedes Aviles Rojas. His parish is St. Joseph, West Milford. He was graduated high school at Colegio Maria Auxiliadora in Guadalupe Huila, Colombia, 2009; completed philosophy studies at Cristo Sacerdote Seminary in Yarumal, Antioquia, Colombia, 2012; studied English as a Second Language program for seven months at Rutgers University, Newark; earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn, He is now studying third year theology at Holy Apostles.
Javier Bareño Castillo
Bareño was born on July 24, 1986 in Santa Rosa del Sur, Bolivar in Colombia to Rafael Antonio Bareño and Emma Castillo. His parish is Santa Rosa de Lima in Santa Rosa del Sur Bolívar, Colombia. He attended high school at minor seminary Cristo Sacerdote in Yarumal, Colombia; studied business administration at University del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia; studied philosophy at Seminary Cristo Sacerdote and the University Catolica del Norte in Yarumal, Colombia, and received certificate for teaching philosophy. He studied theology at the University Catolica de Oriente, in Rionegro, Colombia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy on April 30 from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn.
Manuel Alejandro Cuellar
Cuellar was born Aug. 23, 1993 in Guadalupe, Huila, Colombia, to Laureano Cuellar Gonzalez and Maria Consuelo Ceballos. His parish is St. Andrew the Apostle, Clifton. He attended high school at Colegio Maria Auxiliadora in Guadalupe, Huila, Colombia; attended minor seminary, Seminario Cristo Sacerdote in Yarumal, Antioquia, Colombia, to finish last two years of high school; studied philosophy at Seminario Cristo Sacerdote; earned a degree to teach philosophy from Catolica del Norte University of Santa Rosa de Osos, Antioquia; studied English as a Second Language at Rutgers University in Newark, and earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., where he continues in his third year of theology.
Michal Dykalski
Dykalski was born Oct. 19, 1986 in Zdunska Wola, Poland, to Jacek Dykalski and Barbara Dykalska. His parish is Holy Family, Florham Park. He has studied at WSD, Conventual Franciscans, Lodz, Poland; Uniwersytet Stefana Kardynala Wyszynskiego, Warszawa, Poland; Instytut Teologiczny Ksiezy Misjonarzy, Krakow, Poland, and Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn.
Omar Hernandez
Hernandez was born on Dec. 25, 1978 in El Playon, Santander, Colombia, to Mathea Hernandez and Atanacio Salcedo. His parishes are Mary Magdalene Parish in Colombia and Our Lady of the Magnificat, Kinnelon. He attended high school at Triangle Institute in Bogota, Colombia; studied philosophy and theology at the FUSA University in Bogota, Colombia; attended Holy Apostles College and Seminary, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and studied theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, South Orange. He also taught Basic English Grammar at Holy Apostles Seminary in Bogota-Colombia and taught philosophy, moral and English grammar at the Catholic University in Colombia and at the Uniminuto University, Colombia. He earned a master’s degree in Divinity and master’s degree in moral theology from Holy Apostles on April 30.
Cerilo Javinez
Javinez was born on Aug. 20, 1980 in Polanas, Masbate City, the Philippines, to Efren and Lucerfida Javinez. His parish is St. Clement Pope and Martyr, Rockaway. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Catholic studies from Seton Hall University, South Orange, 2013.
Marcin Kania
Kania was born on March 16, 1983 in Debica, Poland, to Jan Kania and Krystyna Kania (both deceased). His parishes are Holy Family, Florham Park and Parafia p.w. Wszystkich Swietych w Straszecinie in Poland. He studied at the Seminary of Tarnow; Ss. Cyril and Methodius Seminary; and Holy Apostles College and Seminary.
Marcin Nurek
Nurek was born on March 16, 1979 in Starogard, Gdanski, Poland, to Andrzej and Helena Nurek. He resides at Domus Bartimaeus, Boonton. He attended high school in Starogard, Gdanski in Poland; attended novitiate and seminary in the Pauline’s Order in Krakow, Poland; attended seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Krakow, Poland, earning a master’s degree in theology, and theology licentiate in the Bible.
Sylwester Pierzak
Pierzak was born on Oct. 12, 1985 in Ostroleka, Poland, to Henryk Pierzak and Marianna Juszczak. His parish is Holy Family, Florham Park. He has studied at Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Poland; Ss. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Krakow, Poland, and Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., from which he graduated on April 30.
Yasid Salas Restrepo
Salas was born on June 5, 1990 in Montelibano, Cordoba, Colombia, to Ramiro Salas Blanco and Nancy Restrepo Oviedo. His parish is Our Lady of the Rosary in Montelibano, Cordoba, Colombia. He currently serves at Ss. Brendan/George Parish, Clifton. He was graduated from high school at St. Bernard Institute in Cordoba, Colombia; studied philosophy at St. Thomas of Aquinas Seminary in Antioquia, Colombia; earned a degree in philosophy at the Catholic University of the North, Antioquia, Colombia; studied English as a Second Language at Rutgers University, Newark; earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, Conn. and is currently studying theology at Holy Apostles.
Michał Rybinski
Rybinski was born on March, 27, 1986 in Szczecinek, Poland, to Krzysztof and Liliana. His parish is St. Rose of Lima, East Hanover. He is preparing for the priesthood at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn.