Twelve seminarians are scheduled to be ordained deacons by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge April 6.
They will be assigned to a parish this summer then will return to seminary for another year before the 2025 ordination to the priesthood takes place.
To watch the livestream, go to bit.ly/4ciPiOF.
Timothy Daniel Banach
Age: 30
Hometown: Corning, N.Y.
Parish: St. Charles Borromeo, Arlington
Education: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 2012-16, systems and information engineering
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo, Wynnewood, Pa. (2019-present)
Summer Assignments: St. Ambrose, Annandale; St. John the Evangelist, Warrenton
Hobbies: backpacking, mountain climbing, skiing, fishing, carpentry and playing the octave mandolin
Favorite part of seminary: The fraternity of growing in holiness alongside other men.
Emmanuel Carreño García
Age: 35
Hometown: León, Guanajuato, México
Parish: St. John Bosco, Woodstock
Education: University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, 2007-11, BA Spanish literature
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo, Wynnewood, Pa. (2018-present)
Summer Assignments: St. Rita, Alexandria; St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Colonial Beach; St. Louis, Alexandria; St. Philip, Falls Church; All Saints, Manassas
Hobbies: playing soccer, guitar, singing, cooking
Favorite Bible quote: Matthew 9:36, “At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Joseph Connor
Age: 30
Hometown: Alexandria
Parish: St. Rita, Alexandria
Education: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, 2012-16, BS electrical engineering
Seminary: Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg., Md. (2016-present)
Summer Assignments: St. Ambrose; St. James, Falls Church; St. Bernadette, Springfield
Hobbies: piano, traveling, trying new foods, being on the water, and evangelizing
How are you preparing for ordination? I am taking a homiletics class to improve my preaching skills so I can relate all that I have learned to parishioners.
Jordan Evans
Age: 28
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Parish: St. John the Evangelist, Warrenton
Education: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, 2013-17, BS mechanical engineering
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo, Wynnewood, Pa. (2019-present)
Summer Assignments: St. John Bosco, Woodstock; Basilica of St. Mary, Alexandria
Hobbies: chess, playing cards and board games, watching and playing sports especially football (Go Hokies!), volleyball, and ultimate frisbee
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? I am most excited about celebrating baptisms — my name is Jordan after all.
John Fimmuchime
Age: 28
Hometown: Nkor Noni-subdivision, Misaje, Cameroon
Parish: St. Louis, Alexandria
Education: Bishop Rogan College (BIROCOL), Buea, 2015-16; St. John Mary Vianney Spiritual Center, Bafut, 2016-17
Seminary: St. John Paul II Major Seminary, Bachuo-Ntai Mamfe, Cameroon, 2017-18, 2019-20; pastoral year at Immaculate Conception Hill, 2021; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. (2021-present)
Hobbies: soccer, singing and encouraging people who feel despair
Favorite Bible quote: Psalms 69:6b, “Let those who seek you, God of Israel, not be disgraced because of me.”
Raymond Edward Goins
Age: 33
Hometown: Herndon
Parish: St. Joseph, Herndon
Education: U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 2010-14, BS international relations
Seminary: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. (2019-present)
Summer Assignments: St. John the Beloved, McLean; St. Philip; All Saints; U.S. Army
Hobbies: sports, reading, hiking, juggling, writing
What brought you to seminary? The Good Lord gave gentle nudges through good friends, priests and lots of prayer.
How are you preparing for ordination? I am meditating on the Divine Mercy and assisting the deacons at seminary as they prepare to be priests.
Andrew Thomas Lewandowski
Age: 55
Hometown: Mount Pleasant, Pa.
Parish: St. Francis de Sales, Purcellville
Education: University of Pittsburgh, 1987-91, BA political science; and George Mason University, Fairfax, 1996-98, MS information engineering
Seminary: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. (2019-present)
Summer Assignments: Blessed Sacrament, Alexandria; St. Theresa, Ashburn
Hobbies: Fishing, camping, hiking, music, and spending time with family and friends
Favorite Bible quote: John 19:26-27, “Woman, behold, your son” … “Behold, your mother”
Favorite family or cultural tradition? Traditional Polish Christmas Eve Dinner called Wigilia
Richard Matthew Malebranche
Age: 36
Hometown: Dale City
Parish: St. Katharine Drexel Mission, Haymarket
Education: George Mason University, Fairfax, 2006-10, BS information technology; Liberty University, Lynchburg, 2013-15, MA human services counseling; Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 2015-17, ME school counseling
Seminary: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. (2019-present)
Summer Assignments: St. Louis; Sacred Heart, Winchester; St. Timothy, Chantilly
Hobbies: listening to music, playing and watching sports, particularly soccer and basketball
Favorite Bible quote: John 6:68-69, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
John Mark Meyerhofer
Age: 30
Hometown: Leesburg
Parish: Our Lady of Hope, Potomac Falls
Education: Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa., 2012-16, BS chemistry
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo, Wynnewood, Pa. (2019-present)
Summer Assignments: Basilica of St. Mary; St. Mary of Sorrows, Fairfax
Hobbies: Irish-American clogging, which I learned with my siblings when we were younger, and reading a good book
Favorite Bible quote: Psalm 91:14-15, “Since he clings to me in love, I will free him. Protect him for he knows my name. When he calls, I shall answer, ‘I am with you.’ ”
What brought you to seminary? The persistent and patient love of God, which kept calling me to him in a way that I could no longer resist.
Christian Nyuykonge Njodzela
Age: 27
Hometown: Vekovi/Kikaikelahki, Cameroon
Parish: St. Andrew the Apostle, Clifton
Education: Bishop Rogan Minor Seminary, Soppo-Buea, Cameroon, 2015-16; St. John Mary Vianney Spiritual Center, Bafut, 2016-17
Seminary: Saint John Paul Major Seminary, Mamfe, Cameroon (2017-20), and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. (2021-present)
Summer Assignments: St. Andrew the Apostle; St. Theresa
Hobbies: playing soccer, singing and being with friends
Favorite Bible quote: John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
Favorite part of seminary: The beautiful liturgy and good liturgical music.
How are you preparing for ordination? Through prayer, retreat, praying through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, assisting at Mass, practicing giving a homily, and getting the vestments and other items I will need for my ministry.
Michael Charles Sampson
Age: 41
Hometown: Visalia, Calif.
Parish: St. Charles Borromeo, Arlington
Education: University of California, San Diego, 2001-05, BA political science; Syracuse University School of Law, 2007-10, Juris Doctorate; Syracuse University Maxwell School, 2008-10, MA international relations; George Washington University Law School, Washington, 2010-11, Master of Laws in international security
Seminary: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. (2019-present)
Summer Assignments: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Lake Ridge; U.S. Navy
Hobbies: soccer, hiking and running
What brought you to seminary? I felt the Lord calling me to the seminary. It was a very big surprise to me since I am a convert, I was practicing law, and had always thought I would have a wife and kids.
Alfredo David Tuesta
Age: 39
Hometown: Paterson, N.J.
Parish: St. Louis, Alexandria
Education: University of Notre Dame, 2003-07, BS mechanical engineering; Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., 2007-14, MS and PhD mechanical engineering
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo, Wynnewood, Pa. (2019-present)
Summer Assignments: St. Timothy; Queen of Apostles, Alexandria; St. Leo, Fairfax
Hobbies: bike riding and stopping for ice cream, cooking for friends, playing card games, and watching films of heroism and virtue
Favorite Bible quote: Psalms 62:2, “My soul rests in God alone, from whom comes my salvation.”
What are you looking forward to about being a deacon? Preaching. I have a growing desire to disseminate the word of God sacramentally.
