The diaconate is a distinct ministry in the Church, with two forms: transitional and permanent. Transitional deacons are seminarians preparing for the priesthood, serving in this role before priestly ordination. Permanent deacons will remain deacons for life. Many are married and have careers, balancing their ministry with family and professional responsibilities. They assist at Mass, preach, preside over baptisms and weddings and serve their communities through works of charity.

Mark Bade

My wife, Laura, and I have been married for 42 years. We both graduated from the University of Dayton and share a
love for music and golf.

I began my studies for the diaconate in 2019 through the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program. In 2022, I continued my formation at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology. It has been a blessing to learn under the guidance of dedicated priests, professors and spiritual advisors as I prepare for ordination in April.

I look forward to serving the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes, offering my hands, feet and voice in service to Christ and His Church. I ask for your prayers for my brother deacons and me as we embark on this journey together, that the Holy Spirit may transform our hearts into the Heart of Jesus, allowing us to be His presence in the world.

Chris Bergman

I was raised in Oklahoma and moved to Cincinnati in 2009. My wife, Stacey, and I have three young adult children—Ryan, Aden and Kalyn. Although I grew up without any formal faith formation, I was baptized into the Catholic Church as an adult at the Easter Vigil Mass in 1998 in Littleton, Colorado. My wife, who was baptized as a child but had not received the other sacraments of initiation, completed them alongside me. Together, we received seven sacraments during that unforgettable Easter Vigil.

I believe my call to the permanent diaconate has been unfolding for quite some time. Upon moving to Cincinnati, I joined a men’s group at Immaculate Heart of Mary and began leading the group after a few years. I then started a similar group at my parish in Hyde Park. During this formative time, I witnessed others discerning and being ordained to the diaconate and, in late 2016, began classes at the seminary toward that end. I now recognize this process of discernment as a conversation with God.

Outside of ministry, I enjoy traveling with my wife and taking walks with our dog. I am also a longtime fan of The Chosen, and my wife and I had the privilege of being extras in the Season 3 episode depicting the Feeding of the 5,000.

Ron Burwinkel

I have always been close to our Lord. I grew up on a small farm, where it seemed we were always praying for rain.

As I grew, got married and raised my family, there were difficult times—challenges with work, health concerns for my children—but time and again, God carried me through. Prayer continually had a positive impact on my family and brought peace to our home. All my life I’ve wondered, If
I didn’t have God and family, who would I turn to when times got hard?

Over the years, I’ve worked more than 14 jobs. In one of them, I had a truly great boss, Frederick, a good Christian man who led with integrity. I befriended another admirable Catholic man, Ken, who mentored me in both faith and family life. Although he passed away ten years ago, his influence remains. Now that my children are grown, it’s my turn to mentor others and help lead them to Christ. I hire young men and women to work on the same small farm where I was raised and now guide, encourage and share my faith with them.

In retirement, I knew there was nothing I wanted more than to serve the Lord. In the diaconate program, I have been blessed by the classmates who journeyed alongside me. I can say with complete confidence that Mount St. Mary’s Seminary is rock solid—the faculty is exceptional, and my appreciation for the formation of our priests has only grown.

Tim Geiger

I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky as the middle of five children in a devout Catholic household. My educational journey took me from Guardian Angels grade school to St. Xavier High School, culminating in a Computer Science engineering degree from the University of Louisville. My wife, Teresa, and I began our life together in 1984, exchanging vows at St. Paul Catholic Church in Louisville. A corporate move brought us to Cincinnati in 1989, where we found our spiritual home at St. Susanna Catholic Church. Our family has flourished here, growing to include seven children and nine grandchildren—truly a testament to God’s abundant blessings.

Though my information technology career has been rewarding, teaching has always called to me. As retirement approached, I envisioned teaching in a Catholic school. This led me to pursue studies at Mount St. Mary Seminary to deepen my theological understanding. The journey took an unexpected turn when, after three years of seminary studies, my wife and son Fr. Chris Geiger suggested I consider the permanent diaconate. Through prayerful discernment, I embraced this path. The subsequent three years of diaconal formation have profoundly changed me. I’ve found inspiration in my fellow deacon candidates and been deeply enriched by the scholarly wisdom of the seminary’s priests and instructors.

My commitment to the diaconate stems from a desire to serve God’s people, and I remain receptive to wherever this calling may lead.

Chris Jasek

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and am grateful to my parents for raising me in the Catholic faith. My relationship with Christ and His Church deepened in college at the University of Illinois, where I studied computer science and human factors engineering. It was also there that I met my wife, Denise, to whom I’ve been happily married for nearly 30 years. Together, we have five adult children.

I first felt the call to the diaconate about 15 years ago. I distinctly remember hearing the Lord’s voice in prayer twice—once during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at a retreat and again during Mass at my home church, Our Lady of Good Hope. After much prayer, my wife and I discerned that it was best to wait until our children were grown before pursuing this call further. In 2019, I began my formation in the Lay Pastoral Ministry Program.

One of my most anticipated acts after ordination is celebrating baptisms, as they mark such an important and joyous moment in a person’s life. I also look forward to preaching at Mass. Outside of ministry, I enjoy hiking, camping and traveling to experience the beauty of God’s creation. I love reading and meditating on sacred Scripture, and my favorite prayers are those to the Holy Spirit.

Roger Kaiser

I feel truly blessed to be nearing ordination as a permanent deacon. My wife, Brenda, and I have two children, Renee (married to Dan) and Craig (married to Sarah). We are also blessed with eight wonderful grandchildren. Our eldest grandchild watches over us from heaven, while the remaining seven keep us on our toes with their boundless energy and diverse personalities. In my free time, I enjoy reading, golfing and, most of all, spending time with family and friends.
I grew up in a blue-collar Catholic home, raised by parents whose faith and hard work shaped me. Brenda, my wife of nearly 45 years, has been my greatest source of support and encouragement.

My call to the diaconate began years ago as a quiet, persistent stirring—a sense that God was inviting me to something more. Over the years, I felt a growing desire to serve the Church in a more active way. Through prayer and encouragement from others, I discerned that God was leading me toward the diaconate. A pivotal moment came during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, when my wife and I visited the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. As we reflected on our Blessed Mother Mary’s courageous “Yes” to God, my wife and I decided to look into diaconate formation.

I am deeply grateful for the prayers and support of my pastor, other priests, family, friends and the faithful of the Holy Cross Family of Parishes. I look forward to serving them with joy and dedication.

Jim Menart

I was born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, have two brothers and two sisters and moved to Dayton, Ohio, in 1996. Catholic my entire life, I am grateful to have been raised in the faith by my parents. My wife, Teresa, and I have been blessed with 32 years of marriage and three wonderful sons, all of whom are married.

I am a mechanical engineer and currently serve as the Interim Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Wright State University, where I also teach several courses in the energy field. Additionally, I developed the Renewable and Clean Energy Master’s Degree Program in Engineering, which is now offered at Wright State.

I feel called by God to the permanent diaconate, and my years of study at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary have only deepened this conviction. I hope that I can aid the people of the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes (in Dayton, Huber Heights, Vandalia and Tipp City) in their spiritual journeys toward our Heavenly Father. I look forward to assisting at Mass and celebrating baptisms, marriages and funerals. I have a deep love of the Scriptures and hope this love can be shared with the members of those parishes.

Jack Rivetti

I grew up in Greenville, Ohio, and there met my wife, Terri, at church softball. She is a middle school band and orchestra teacher, and I work with individuals who have developmental disabilities. We have three children: Clare, Joseph and Jacob. Shortly after we married, Terri and I moved to Huber Heights in Dayton and joined St. Peter Catholic Church, where we have been parishioners ever since.

My wife and I have always been involved in a number of ministries at St. Peter, prompting my wife to ask me if I had ever considered becoming a deacon. I told her I was interested, but with our children still young, I felt they needed to be my primary focus. As they grew, however, I became increasingly aware that the Lord was calling me to discern a vocation to the diaconate.

I look forward to assisting at Mass as a deacon because I love being close to God, especially in the Eucharist. I also cherish being with people and hope to serve them by bringing Holy Communion, visiting the sick and sharing the faith. One of my greatest joys is studying Scripture, deepening my understanding of how the Old and New Testaments intertwine as part of God’s divine story. A favorite reading is Psalm 63—look it up!

I feel truly blessed to be part of this diaconate group. The men in my class bring great passion and promise for the future of our Church.

Phillip Theodore

I am married to my wonderful wife, Kathryn (McDonough). Growing up in Niles, Ohio, I graduated from Youngstown State University and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. After nine years in active duty, serving in Germany, the Middle East, Korea and Ft. Carson, Colorado, I served as a Federal Civil Servant in Colorado and Ohio. Outside of ministry, one of my greatest passions is motorcycle riding— it’s exhilarating and freeing.

My mother said I wanted to be a priest—though I can’t remember that. Her reminder led me to discern the diaconate about seven years ago. After much prayer and with the unwavering support of my wife, we said “Yes” to God’s call. Throughout my formation, I have found deep inspiration in the Psalms, especially those that emphasize gratitude.

I am profoundly grateful for the world-class instructors who have revealed the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith throughout my formation. I eagerly anticipate the joy of sharing this faith with everyone in the archdiocese. I also look forward to helping parishioners discover their individual vocations and the gifts that come from an ever- deepening relationship with God.

David Ulmer

I am a husband, father and registered nurse with 30 years of experience in pediatrics, both in clinical settings and at home with our nine children. I graduated from Cedarville University with a B.A. in biology and a minor in biblical studies, before going on to earn a nursing degree. My wife and I have been Natural Family Planning (NFP) instructors for over 20 years. During our training, it was the teachings of the Catholic Church—particularly Humanae Vitae—that led us into full communion with the Body of Christ at the Easter Vigil in 2005. Since September 2021, I have served as the Associate Director of Chastity and Natural Family Planning in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Marriage and Family Office.

Before becoming Catholic, I was a deacon in a Baptist church. Through my conversion, the desire to serve remained constant, so I began the educational prerequisites for admission to diaconate candidacy in 2013, trusting that God would guide me if it was His will. My journey toward the diaconate originally stemmed from gratitude for His deliverance and my conversion to Christ at age 19. That gratitude deepened as I experienced the gift of full communion with His Church at age 38.

I look forward to serving as a minister of Eucharistic Exposition, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. As Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

For more information on the vocation of the Permanent Diaconate, click here.

Pray for our new Permanent Deacons on Saturday, April 26 with their ordination at the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains Cathedral.

This article appeared in the April 2025 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.