28 Men Admitted to Permanent Diaconate Candidacy
11.24.25
The morning of Sunday, November 23 saw 28 men receiving initiation into the Admission to Candidacy for the Permanent Diaconate from The Most Rev. Robert G. Casey, Archbishop of Cincinnati, inside the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great. The men, who are in their first year of the three-year permanent diaconate program, represent the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the Diocese of Covington.
Those who have made it to this stage have been involved in a long, multi-year process already to get to this stage. Along with their own personal discernment and meeting and endorsement from the pastor of their home parish, men in the permanent diaconate program will have also completed a two-year Aspirancy program through their sending diocese and the academic requirement for a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from MTSM or an equivalent program.
Throughout the year, the men in formation for the permanent diaconate come to MTSM every other weekend to take classes and join the seminarian community in formation for the priesthood for meals and Mass. To learn more about the path to the permanent diaconate, click here.
God-willing, these men will be ordained to the permanent diaconate by their respective dioceses in the Spring of 2028.
A full listing of the men in formation for the permanent diaconate who received Admission to Candidacy is below. You can also view a video of the closing procession from the Mass below.
Candidates for the Permanent Diaconate (Alphabetical Order)
Archdiocese of Cincinnati: Kevin Davis, Matthew Eilerman, Fred Gabriele, Michael Guarasci, Mark Holly, Shawn Kalis, Martin McGinley, Carl Meyer, Mark Mignery, Paul Myers, Kevin Oleckniche, Trent Pearson, Michael Pfeifer, David Sarvak, Kenneth Schmiesing, Christopher Schoonmaker, Thomas Shumate, Jason Taylor, Roger Thesing, Jr.
Diocese of Covington: Gerald Bezold, Jeffrey Bier, Kevin Hooker, Juan Carlos Montes, Thomas Paolucci, Gregory Smorey, Jason Snapp, Kevin Stamps, JJ Wurtz