Bishop Kulick ordains two men to permanent diaconate in Diocese

By the Catholic Accent
Photos by Mary Seamans

GREENSBURG – Aug 10 – On the Feast of St. Lawrence, the Most Reverend Larry J. Kulick, JCL, Bishop of Greensburg, ordained two men, Mark Ferlin and Jerome (JT) Tuskan, to the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Greensburg.

The date of the ordination on the feast day was especially significant. St. Lawrence, a third century deacon, was one of seven deacons in Rome under Pope Sixtus II persecuted and martyred for Christ.

Deacon Ferlin and his wife, Kathy, have three children. They are parishioners at St. Cecelia Parish in Whitney. Deacon Tuskan and his wife, Anita, have three children. Both are grandparents and both men attended Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe.

With ordinations, the Diocese of Greensburg now has 12 permanent deacons.

During his homily, Bishop Kulick reminded Ferlin and Tuskan that like St. Lawrence, their ministry is one of service and charity.

“You will now be, in a special way, guardians of the Word,” Bishop Kulick said. “You will reflect in homilies on that word of God and feed the people spiritually.”

Permanent deacons differ from those ordained to the  transitional diaconate. Seminarians on the path to priesthood are ordained traditional deacons. Permanent deacons assist the priest during Mass, proclaim the Gospel, and preach on occasion. They may also be called to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism, witness marriages; preside at funerals and burial services; lead Eucharistic adoration and benediction and offer blessings in the name of the church. They may also provide pastoral care for those in the hospital, care homes, jails and prisons.

Following the ordination Mass, Deacon Tuskan, who had been assigned at St. Mary, Mother of God parish in Freeport for the past year, said serving at the altar and being close to the consecration of the Eucharist has increased his love of Christ.

“It is a truly a joy to serve God and his people, and in any small way, help to lead them closer to Christ in their faith journey,” he said.

On Saturday, August 12, Bishop Kulick will ordain Brother Romuald Duchene, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey to the diaconate. Brother Romuald professed solemn vows as a Benedictine monk on Jul 11, 2023, before Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B.

Brother Romuald came to the Archabbey in 2009, spending a year in the novitiate and professing first vows on July 9, 2010. Spending two more years at the Archabbey, he began a period of discernment before returning in 2021 and renewing his temporary vows in 2022.

He attended Saint Anthony Middle School and Saint Anthony Village High School, graduating in 1988. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, in 2002, and a Master of Arts degree in systematic theology from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2021.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, he is the son of Patti Gentz of Minneapolis and the late William Duchene.