Thomas Sommero, a former member of Holy Child Jesus parish, Richmond Hill, was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J. He will serve at the parish of Our Lady of Mount Virgin, Middlesex.

Born in Queens, he attended Holy Child Jesus School; Christ the King R.H.S., Middle Village; and St. John’s University. He went on to a federal law enforcement career with the U.S. Dept. of Labor. Most recently, he has been working with the Inspector General’s Office for the Port Authority.

In his parish, he has been active as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and as a teacher in the RCIA program.

Deacon Sommero has three sisters. His mother, Eleanor Sommero, is a member of Our Lady of Mercy parish, Forest Hills.

Deacon Sommero is married to his wife, Patricia, and they have three daughters.

“My life has been nothing but blessings,” he told The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen.

Beyond the blessing received when his wife recovered from cancer, he elaborated that his youngest daughter graduated from Catholic University, Washington, D.C., earlier this month with a degree in social work, and his middle daughter will receive a graduate degree in nursing in August. His oldest daughter, who has a degree in biochemistry and works as a senior brewer, will be married in September. His middle daughter will be married the following June.

“This is a very exciting year for all of us,” Deacon Sommero said.