Two Ordained to Traditional Diaconate

NEW DEACONS  Bishop Serratelli ordained Benedictine Brothers Joseph Voltaggio and Demetrius Thomas to the transitional diaconate May 16. The new deacons are pictured with the Bishop, Abbot Richard Cronin and their parents.

MORRISTOWN  Bishop Serratelli ordained Benedictine Brothers Joseph Voltaggio and Demetrius Thomas to the transitional diaconate May 16 before family, friends, Benedictine monks and visiting clergy in St. Mary’s Abbey here. Benedictine Abbot Richard Cronin presented Brother Joseph and Brother Demetrius to the Bishop for ordination to the diaconate. The two deacons will be ministering at local parishes on Sunday. Deacon Voltaggio will be working pastoral care at Morristown Medical Center. Deacon Thomas will work in the summer camp at Delbarton School here. They will resume studies for the priesthood in the fall at Seton Hall University, South Orange.

Deacon Voltaggio had been a parishioner for many years at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel, Cedar Knolls, where he met the monks of the Abbey who had previously served at and administered the parish. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of American, he worked as a chef for many years. Deacon Thomas was graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and came to the Abbey from Hastings, Pa., where he became acquainted with the Benedictines who staff the parish there.