MILWAUKEE — Ten men will be ordained deacons for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Bishop Richard J. Sklba on Saturday, June 13 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The men will serve in a variety of ministries at their parishes and in their communities. The following short biographies were compiled based on answers the men provided in a written questionnaire.
The men being ordained are:
Michael J. Chmielewski, a member of Holy Apostles Parish, New Berlin. Chmielewski is married to Mary and has four children: Anthony, 32, who is married to Emily and father of 2-year-old Madeline; Monica, 28, engaged to Matthew Hendrickson; Katherine, 27, married to Darren Rose, with one child, 2-year-old Jaden; and Carolyn, 25, engaged to Andrew Palmer. Since 1975, Chmielewski has been employed at the Carmelite Home for Boys and currently serves as supervisor of social services, individual and family therapist and intake director. He earned his bachelor’s degree in theology from St. Francis de Sales College, St. Francis in 1974 and his master’s degree in social welfare from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 1976.
His diaconal ministry will focus on baptism preparation and baptisms and marriage preparation and validation at Holy Apostles Parish, New Berlin. He will also assist monthly at Linden Grove Nursing Home, New Berlin, with Sunday services and will also visit residents of the facility who are parishioners of Holy Apostles.
His Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated Sunday, June 14 at 9:15 a.m. at Holy Apostles Parish. Brothers-in-law Capuchin Frs. Alan Veik and Roger Veik will concelebrate.
Jeff Copson, a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, New Berlin. Copson is married to Mary and has four children: Jennifer (Andy) Brunn; Christine (Jason) Shawger; Jessica (Mike) Zieman; and Catherine Copson.
Principal of Waukesha Central Middle School, Copson has a bachelor’s degree in marketing education from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater and a master’s degree in administrative leadership from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
He will be involved in nursing home ministry at Linden Grove Nursing Home, New Berlin.
Copson’s Masses of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish on Sunday, June 14 at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m.
Gregory Diciaula, a member of St. Dominic Parish, Brookfield. Diciaula is married to Linda and has one daughter, Amy Diciaula. He works at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the Department of Anesthesiology and Department of Instructional Media. Diciaula earned his bachelor’s degree in communication from Marquette University and his certificate in pastoral studies from Saint Francis Seminary, St. Francis.
His areas of diaconal ministry through St. Dominic Parish include service to the sick, elderly, nursing home patients and homebound individuals.
Diciaula’s Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated Sunday, June 14 at 9 a.m. at St. Dominic Parish.
Thomas J. Fogarty, a member of St. Paul Parish, Milwaukee. Fogarty is married to Christine and has one daughter, Emily Ann Fogarty. An employee of GE Healthcare, Fogarty is also a representative of one of the local labor unions.
He graduated from Don Bosco High School, Milwaukee and attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Through St. Paul Parish, Fogarty will be involved in bereavement ministry, marriage preparation and ministry to the homebound and those in hospitals. His Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 14 at St. Paul Parish.
Richard P. Gulig, a member of St. Peter Claver Church, Sheboygan. Gulig is married to Karel and has five children: Amy (Ben) Strong; Lesley (Luis) Hernandez; Kenneth (Jacquie) Ilkenhans; Steven (Angela) Ilkenhans; and Christopher (Cynthia) Nelson.
A quality manager with the Mayline Group in Sheboygan, Gulig received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 1984; his master’s degree in organizational leadership and quality from Marian University in Fond du Lac in 1996 and his certificate for pastoral services from Saint Francis Seminary, St. Francis in 2008.
He will perform his diaconal ministry at the Sheboygan County Detention Center and will make pastoral visits to the homebound and nursing home residents. He will also be involved in ministry with the St. Peter Claver Hmong community and will assist with baptisms, weddings and liturgical celebrations at St. Peter Claver Parish.
His Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 14 at St. Peter Claver Parish.
Keith A. Hansen, a member of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Racine. Hansen is married to Gloria and has three children: Christopher, Eric and the late Brian. A 36-year-employee of AT&T, Hansen began work with the company as a cord board, long distance operator in 1973 and currently orders voice lines and data type circuits for communications mainly at AT&T Mobility stores.
He graduated from Horlick High School, Racine in 1971 and received his bachelor’s degree from Carthage College, Kenosha, in 2004.
His diaconal ministry will center on helping fathers cope after their baby was aborted. He plans to work with Project Rachel, Milwaukee to help these fathers cope with after effects of abortion.
His Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 14 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish.
Paul Klingseisen, a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, Milwaukee. Klingseisen is married to Linda and has two children: Christine and David.
An application engineer with Rockwell Automation, Klingseisen has an associate engineering degree.
Klingseisen’s diaconal ministry will be performed through Blessed Sacrament Parish. He will conduct baptismal preparation for new parents, act as spiritual advisor to the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul conference, organize Scripture discussion sessions, preside at baptisms and funeral vigils, preach at Sunday Masses, conduct training for lectors and extraordinary ministers of holy Communion, accompany St. Vincent de Paul members on home visits to needy families, bring Communion to homebound parishioners and visit prisoners at the Milwaukee County jail.
His Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated 11 a.m. Sunday, June 14 at Blessed Sacrament Parish.
Dale T. Nees, a member of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Racine. Nees is married to Barbara J. and has four children: Joshua Nees, Aharon Goodwin, Jason Passehl and Peter Nees.
Nees is director of systems operation for Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – All Saints Hospital, Racine. He received his associate degree in nursing from Gateway Technical College, Racine in 1983, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Marquette University in 1987, a master’s degree in business administration from Cardinal Stritch University in 1993, a certificate for pastoral studies from Saint Francis Seminary, St. Francis in 2008 and expects to complete his master of arts degree in ministry in December 2009.
Nees will perform his diaconal ministry through St. Paul the Apostle Parish and will coordinate baptismal preparation, home eucharistic ministry and will be involved in marriage preparation. Nees will be an annual RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) presenter, preach monthly and, in rotation with other deacons, will serve as a truck stop chaplain at the Iron Skillet on Highway 20 in Racine.
His Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated Sunday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Parish.
Hector Villarreal, a member of St. Patrick Parish, Whitewater. Villarreal is married to Blanca H. and has three children: Irasema, Cecilia and Diego. An employee of Dean Kincaid, Inc., Palmyra, Villarreal attended primary school in Mexico and high school in Texas.
He will serve his diaconal ministry through St. Patrick Parish, Whitewater in areas of faith formation, liturgy and preparation for the reception of the sacraments.
His Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 14 at St. Patrick Parish.
Rick J. Wirch, a member of St. Leonard Parish, Muskego. Wirch is married to Mary and has two children: Michael and Katie. A consultant with Fujitsu Consulting, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Carthage College and his certificate in pastoral services from Saint Francis Seminary, St. Francis.
Wirch’s diaconal ministry will be conducted through St. Leonard Parish and he will visit shut-ins and the sick and will also be involved in jail ministry at the Waukesha County Jail.
His Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m. at St. Leonard Parish.