5 Westmoreland men to be ordained deacons in Greensburg diocese

Five Westmoreland County men are set to become permanent deacons this weekend with the Diocese of Greensburg.

Their ordination will take place at a 10 a.m. Mass Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg, according to an announcement. The event will be livestreamed on the diocesan website and is only open to invited guests.

Their ordinations will bring the total number of deacons in the diocese to 14. To be ordained are:

• Michael Dargay, 57, of Tarrs, is a plant manager for Forum Lighting. He spent time at Holy Trinity Parish in Ligonier.

• Craig Gilbert, 53, of Delmont, is a physical therapist for UPMC. He attends St. John Baptist de La Salle in Delmont.

• Steven LoCascio, 66, of Greensburg, is a retired teacher and administrator at Greater Latrobe School District. He attends St. Benedict in Marguerite.

• Robert Stauffer, 60, of Adamsburg, is maintenance director at St. Paul Parish in Greensburg and a retired state trooper. He trained at St. Agnes Parish in North Huntingdon.

• Bill Wilson, 58, of North Huntingdon, the senior director of corporate development and investor relations for Matthews International Corp. in Pittsburgh. He served at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in North Huntingdon.

They have been working for five years with Deacon Bill Hisker, director of the permanent diaconate in the diocese.

“If I could have five more like them every two years, I would be tickled,” Hisker said in the announcement.

They will receive their first parish assignments after ordination. Deacons can serve at the altar, do readings from the Bible, deliver a homily, perform baptisms and weddings and lead funeral services where there is no Mass.

They work in conjunction with priests and can be married, as are all five being ordained.

“A deacon’s lifestyle is anchored in the mission of Christ as a servant,” Hisker said. “The deacon is called to commit his entire life to service. The deacon must be a man of faith who daily serves his brothers and sisters in a spirit of unselfishness, exemplifying the love of God through that ministry.”