Seventeen Men to be Admitted as Candidates for the Permanent Diaconate Author: The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D. In the News 15 Oct 2020 Share FALL RIVER — Seventeen men will be admitted to candidacy for the Permanent Diaconate of the Diocese of Fall River on Tuesday, October 27, at 7:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Parish in Fall River. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will celebrate the Mass during which the admission ceremony will take place. Assisting Bishop da Cunha, will be Father Robert A. Oliveira, co-director of the diocesan Permanent Diaconate. Deacon Frank R. Lucca, co-director of the Permanent Diaconate, will serve as the deacon of the Mass. The prospective candidates are the tenth class for the Permanent Diaconate of the Diocese and have been in the formation program for over one year. Admission to candidacy occurs when the prospective candidates have reached maturity of purpose and have demonstrated other necessary qualifications along with their completion of the required preparatory steps. During the ceremony, candidates publicly express their desire to be ordained as deacons and the bishop accepts their declaration. The families of the candidates will be present to join in prayer at this Mass. Due to gathering restrictions, attendance will be limited to invited guests only. The candidates have completed a period of Aspirancy during which they were advised of the role of the Deacon, expectations for formation and the ministry to which they have been called. Father Oliveira and Deacon Lucca, as well as other deacons formed a team with the purpose of evaluating them and their applications. During Aspirancy, prospective candidates submitted required documentation and along with their wives, participated in psychological evaluation. They have completed one year of study which included courses in Spiritual Theology, Christology and Ecclesiology. They will continue in three more years of academic and pastoral formation before ordination as deacons. The prospective candidates and their parishes are as follows: James Adams, St. Anthony Parish, East Falmouth; Jeremias Carranza, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James, New Bedford; Richard Fish, Christ the King Parish, Mashpee; David Gaspar, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Swansea; Tyrone Gonsalves, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Leonard Guyette, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Philip Koch, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Orleans; David Laird, Christ the King Parish, Mashpee; Thomas Martin, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Joseph Martino, St. John Neumann Parish, East Freetown. Also, Daniel Merline, St. John Neumann Parish, East Freetown; Americo Miranda, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Westport; John O’Brien, St. Mary Parish, Mansfield; David Roderick, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Shawn Seybert, St. Theresa of the Child of Jesus Parish, Attleboro; Scott Taveira, Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish, New Bedford; and Michael Wojcik, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Taunton. The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D. The Bishop of Fall River Categories In the News Press Releases and Statements Messages from The Bishop Bishop's Blog Success Stories Photo Gallery Videos Related Posts In the News 24 May 2016 Eleven to be Admitted to Candidacy for the Permanent Diaconate NEW BEDFORD – Eleven men aspiring to become permanent deacons will be admitted to candidacy at a Mass on June 8, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Holy Name of … Read More In the News 9 May 2023 Diocese to Welcome New Deacons FALL RIVER — On Saturday, May 20, at 11 a.m. in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will ordain 15 men to the Permanent … Read More In the News 14 Jun 2021 Candidates for Diaconate to be Installed as Readers Fifteen candidates currently studying for the Permanent Diaconate in the Fall River Diocese will be installed as Readers by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June … Read More