PROSPECT HEIGHTS — George Mougias had no doubt he would become a permanent deacon for his parish, St. Nicholas of Tolentine in Jamaica; he just didn’t know when. 

Three days before the diocese’s scheduled ordination and Mass on Nov. 22, he was still waiting for a dispensation from the Vatican to join the 10 other members of the “Class of 2025” in being ushered into the diaconate by Bishop Robert Brennan. 

Unlike the others, Mougias needed the dispensation because 25 years ago, he converted from the Greek Orthodox Church to the Roman Catholic Church.  

The Vatican ultimately gave its approval on Nov. 20, allowing Mougias to receive the rite of ordination alongside the rest of this year’s group at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. They were joined by their families and the mentors who vested them. 

“A couple of days ago, I was looking at an individual ordination,” Mougias said before the Mass, noting that the Vatican’s decision could have gone either way. “I would have been ordained, but without my brothers.” 

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Still, his wife, Alexandra, said she had a feeling on Nov. 20 that approval was imminent. 

“I told him that I was still praying that it was going to happen,” she said after the Mass. “I said, ‘It’s only the morning — the day hasn’t ended yet.’ And then, sure enough, at 11 o’clock or so, he got a call telling him it was approved.” 

Mougias said it was “beyond exciting for me” to be ordained with the other men from throughout the diocese who went through formation together. 

“It’s a gift from God to be ordained in union with them for the same mission of the Church,” he said. 

Permanent deacons differ from transitional deacons, who are taking their final steps toward becoming priests. By contrast, permanent deacons can be married with children and usually work secular jobs. 

Still, these servants perform many important duties such as witnessing marriages, conducting funeral services outside of church, baptizing babies, distributing Communion, and delivering homilies.  

“Indeed, we rely very much on the service of deacons,” Bishop Brennan said before the Mass. “They’re very involved in many important ministries in the diocese. That’s in addition to their charism of service, of being united with people.” 

(Photos: Johnathan Paul Tigsi Lituma)

The other new deacons ordained included: Jose Manuel Arias Cestoni of Our Lady of Cenacle Parish in Richmond Hill, vested by Deacon Mauricio Rosales; Matthew Bonvento of Holy Trinity Parish in Whitestone, vested by Father Joseph Fonti; Carlos Bueno of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Woodhaven, vested by Father Francisco Walker; Dowill Garcia of Blessed Sacrament-St. Sylvester Parish in Cypress Hills, vested by Deacon Carlos Pichardo; Mark Anthony Garcia of St. Brigid’s Church in Bushwick, vested by Father Carlos Velásquez; Frank John Kazlausky of Holy Trinity Parish in Whitestone, vested by Father Joseph Gibino; John P. Muldoon of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Bayside, vested by Father Gabriel Lee; Jean Nduwimana of Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Flatbush, vested by Father Yvon Jean Pierre; Krzysztof Niewiadomski of Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Williamsburg, vested by Father Wieslaw Strzadala; and Carlos Patricio Valencia of St. Bartholomew in Elmhurst, vested by Father Rick Beuther. 

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Mougias was vested by Deacon Thomas Jorge.  

During the Mass, Bishop Brennan prayed the ordination prayer over the deacon elects and lay hands on them. Then each of the 11 knelt before the bishop while given the book of the gospels, and was told “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

It was a reminder, like one given at priestly ordinations, that these servants’ lives, both public and private, should be consistent witnesses to their faith. 

Deacon Bonvento said he does just that in his job as an associate professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Long Island. Supporting him at the ordination were a dozen midshipmen from the academy in dress uniforms. 

“They’re going on to get commissioned in the U.S. Navy Reserve and earn their Coast Guard licenses to work on cargo ships,” said Deacon Bonvento, a former Merchant Marine. “Part of my joy there is getting to share my faith, aside from teaching.” 

Five of the new deacons will serve in parishes with large groups of Spanish-speaking members. 

“It’s a big honor and responsibility,” Deacon Arias said. “Our community is growing, and it’s a pleasure serving and helping them.”