Deacon Dan Buckley

Age: 62

Date of Birth: Jan. 5, 1951

Place of Birth: Atlanta

Family: He and his wife, Terri, have been married for 35 years and have two sons, Chris and Steven, and two grandchildren.

Education: Attended DeKalb Community College, Clarkston, and studied accounting

Work Experience: Bookkeeper and administrator at United Pump and Controls, Inc., in Suwanee

Hobbies and Interests: Hiking, vegetable gardening

Parish Ministries: St. Vincent de Paul Society caseworker and spiritual advisor; lector; extraordinary minister of holy Communion; Laymen for Christ (men’s spiritual group); Ultreya; Light of Christ Prayer Group; liturgy committee; ministry head for lectors, Bible study, facilitator for women’s spiritual group

Ministries of Interest In Future: Volunteer mentor with Gwinnett Family Promise (shelter for homeless families); visitations of inactive parishioners

Additional Languages: Desire to study Spanish

Parish Where Assigned: St. Matthew Church, Winder

Favorite Quote: “We have to do everything for love, not out of force.” (St. Francis de Sales)

Most Admired Person: St. Augustine of Hippo

Deacon Joseph Crowley

Age: 50

Date of Birth: Jan. 4, 1963

Place of Birth: Glendale, Calif.

Family: He and his wife, Donna, have been married for 29 years. They have a daughter, Rachel.

Education: Bachelor of science in computer science from Kennesaw State University

Work Experience: Software architect for Bond International Software, Inc. In the past he has worked for Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, and NCI and Manhattan Associates as a software developer.

Hobbies and Interests: Computer programming, reading, gardening

Parish Ministries: RCIA, military ministry, Life Teen

Ministries of Interest in Future: New Evangelization, Christ Renews His Parish

Parish Where Assigned: St. Peter Chanel, Roswell

Favorite Quote: “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” (St. Thomas Aquinas)

Most Admired Person: St. Peter

Deacon Eugene Dickerson

Age: 65

Date of Birth: Feb. 11, 1948

Place of Birth: Des Moines, Iowa

Family: He and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 23 years.

Education: Bachelor of science in education, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Mo.; master of arts, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Work Experience: U.S. Army, retired; Delta Community Credit Union, Atlanta, retired

Hobbies and Interests: Woodworking, gardening and reading

Parish Ministries: Homeless, homebound and nursing home ministries, working with the sick and dying

Ministries of Interest in Future: Christ Renews His Parish

Parish Where Assigned: Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City

Favorite Quote: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Most Admired Person: St. Pio of Pietrelcina, O.F.M. Cap.

Deacon Mark F. Friedlein

Age: 57

Date of Birth: Oct. 3, 1955

Place of Birth: Rolla, Mo.

Family: He and his wife, Aileen, have been married for 33 years and have two sons, Nick and Keith.

Education: Bachelor of science in economics and agriculture, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; master of arts in management, University of Redlands, Calif.

Work Experience: Employed by The Coca-Cola Company as group director—Coca-Cola Freestyle Global Product Supply

Hobbies and Interests: Golf, woodworking, music and reading

Parish Ministries: Music ministry, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Christ Renews His Parish, food bank management

Ministries of Interest in Future: Faith formation program development and administration, dispute resolution and mediation services

Parish Where Assigned: Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City

Favorite Quote: “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues; hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.” (St. Augustine)

Most Admired Person: St. Joseph, the husband of Our Blessed Mother. His words were rarely recorded, but his actions spoke volumes. St. Joseph is the model of obedience, faith, marital fidelity and servant leadership for husbands, fathers and deacons.

Deacon Carlos Garcia

Age: 51

Date of Birth: Oct. 17, 1961

Place of Birth: Matanzas, Cuba

Family: He and his wife, Dalila, have been married for 26 years. They have two sons, Michael Anthony and William Paul.

Education: Bachelor of science in religion, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.; associate in science in computer engineering, Tampa Tech, Tampa, Fla. (MCP, A+); associate in data processing, Miami-Dade College, Miami, Fla.

Work Experience: Network administrator, Christ the King School, Atlanta; previously computer teacher and network administrator, St. John the Apostle School, Miami; network administrator, Compuquip, Miami; field engineer and product manager, I.S.E. Inc., Miami; general manager and computer system supervisor, Varadero Supermarket, Miami; field engineer, NCR/AT&T, Miami

Hobbies and Interests: Baseball and sports, nature activities

Parish Ministries: St. Vincent de Paul Society caseworker; Bible study leader; assistant in altar server training; lector; extraordinary minister of holy Communion; speaker in parish faith formation classes, RCIA classes (Spanish and English) and in Life Teen; director of parish Passion play; Knights of Columbus

Ministries of Interest In Future: Youth ministry

Additional Languages Spoken: Spanish

Parish Where Assigned: St. John Vianney Church, Lithia Springs

Favorite Quote: “All for God and for His Glory. In whatever you do, think of the Glory of God as your main goal.” (St. John Bosco, Apostle of Youth)

Most Admired Person: Deacon Pedro Calvo

Deacon James C. “Chrys” Harkins

Age: 62

Date of Birth: Jan. 27, 1951

Place of Birth: Cincinnati, Ohio

Family: He and his wife, Donna, have been married for 39 years and have one daughter, Kristin, and one granddaughter.

Education: Bachelor of science in communication arts, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio; master of business administration, Xavier University, Cincinnati

Work Experience: Contracts manager for Computer Sciences Corp. Prior to joining his present firm, employed in the transportation, retail and telecommunications industries specializing in procurement and supply chain management. Commissioned as Ensign, U.S. Navy Reserve, in 1973 serving four and a half years of active duty, including a tour in Yokosuka, Japan, and two deployments to the Western Pacific. He continued serving in the Navy Reserve until retirement at the rank of Commander in 1994. Participated in Operation Frequent Wind (evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam).

Hobbies and Interests: Golf, reading and travel

Particular Ministries: Active with his wife in the Engaged Encounter ministry as a presenting couple and in leadership roles for over 30 years. Current ministries include marriage preparation, RCIA, acolyte, lector, extraordinary minister of holy Communion, scheduling and training altar servers, stewardship, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus.

Ministries of Interest in Future: Liturgy, adult education and RCIA

Parish Where Assigned: St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church, Douglasville

Favorite Quote: “Not to be served but to serve.”

Most Admired Person: Blessed Pope John XXIII

Deacon Jerome Michael Hayward

Age: 55

Date of Birth: May 12, 1957

Place of Birth: New Haven, Conn.

Family: He and his wife, Mary, have been married for 14 years. He has two adult stepchildren, Terri and Sam, and one grandchild.

Education: Graduate of St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, and U.S. Air Force technical school, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Attended Southern Polytechnic, Marietta, Georgia State University and Gwinnett Tech; completed tennis instructor course for U.S. Professional Tennis Registry.

Work Experience: Owner-operator of Mike’s Lawncare Plus, LLC, since 1998; independent tennis instructor; airplane mechanic for U.S. Air Force

Hobbies and Interests: Tennis, hiking, playing piano, drawing, reading theology, chess

Parish Ministries: Life Teen, nursing home, young married couples, Respect Life, Cursillo, middle school catechesis

Ministries of Interest in Future: Adult faith formation, youth, marriage and family life, elderly

Parish Where Assigned: St. John Neumann Church, Lilburn

Favorite Quote: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.”

Most Admired Person: Blessed Pope John Paul II

Deacon Francis D. Head Jr.

Age: 43

Date of Birth: Feb. 12, 1970

Place of Birth: Griffin

Family: He and his wife, Stacey, have been married for 20 years, and have one son, Will.

Education: Bachelor of applied science in technology management, Clayton University, Morrow; associate’s degree of applied science in computer programming, Gordon College, Barnesville; diploma in computer programming, Griffin Technical College, Griffin

Work Experience: Technology coordinator and technology teacher to pre-K through eighth grade at St. John the Evangelist School, Hapeville. Previously worked for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and Georgia-Pacific Corp.

Hobbies and Interests: Science fiction, reading, any activities with wife and son

Parish Ministries: Archdiocese of Atlanta Disabilities Ministry advisory board, Toni’s Camp, Life Teen, Tribunal case sponsor, baptism preparation, liturgy, bringing Communion to the sick, religious education

Ministries of Interest in Future: Toni’s Camp, ministry to people with disabilities, religious education

Parish Where Assigned: Catholic Church of St. Gabriel, Fayetteville

Favorite Quote: “Truth suffers, but never dies.” (St. Teresa of Avila)

Most Admired Person: St. George Preca, T.O.Carm.

Deacon Paul Krarup

Age: 61

Date of Birth: April 5, 1951

Place of Birth: San Diego, Calif.

Family: He and his wife, Lin, have been married for 29 years and have one son, David.

Education: Bachelor of science in radio/television, San Diego State University

Work Experience: Computer programmer/analyst for Fiserv Corp., now retired.

Hobbies and Interests: Photography, woodworking, learning the guitar, reading

Parish Ministries: RCIA, Eucharist to the homebound, extraordinary minister of holy Communion, lector, pastoral council, adult faith formation, hospice, prison ministry

Ministries of Interest in Future: Liturgy, adult faith formation, hospital and prison ministries, sacramental preparation

Parish Where Assigned: Prince of Peace Church, Flowery Branch

Favorite Quote: “Not to be served, but to serve.” (Mt 20: 28)

Most Admired Person: Blessed Pope John XXIII

Deacon Ricardo dela Luna Medina

Age: 48

Date of Birth: Aug. 15, 1964

Place of Birth: Lemery, Batangas, Philippines

Family: He and his wife, Christy, have been married for 23 years and have three daughters, Rachelle, Chelsea and Michelle.

Education: Bachelor of science in computer science and mathematics, St. Peter’s University, Jersey City, N.J.; electronic commerce certificate, Georgia Tech, Atlanta; certified financial planning certificate, Oglethorpe University, Atlanta

Work Experience: Executive director, Catholic World Mission, Atlanta, a Legion of Christ-sponsored organization that provides scholarships through affiliate schools and supports medical missions, disaster relief, and full- and part-time Catholic evangelizers. Previously director of G.R.A.C.E. Scholars for the Catholic dioceses of Atlanta and Savannah; president and founder of Energy Imperium, Atlanta; president of Altra Risk Management Services, Houston, Texas; president and founder of Level Red Solutions, Atlanta; and senior director, Enron Energy Services, Houston

Hobbies and Interests: All types of sports, coaching soccer, reading technical books in mathematics, statistics, business and programming

Parish Ministries: Knights of Columbus, adult faith formation, lector

Ministries of Interest in Future: Adult faith formation

Additional Languages Spoken: Tagalog (native language of the Philippines)

Parish Where Assigned: St. Andrew Church, Roswell

Favorite Quote: “Pray as if everything depended on God, but work as if everything depended on you.” (St. Ignatius)

Most Admired Person: Msgr. Hugh Marren, pastor of All Saints Church, Dunwoody; Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of the Missionaries of the Poor; Father Joe Mendes, M.S.F.S., spiritual director

Deacon Joseph Hoa Van Pham

Age: 55

Date of Birth: Nov. 11, 1957

Place of Birth: Saigon, Vietnam

Family: He and his wife, Thuy Thi-Le, have been married for 24 years. They have two daughters, Jamilla Duyen-Phuong and Jamie Y-Xuan.

Education: Heald College, Milpitas, Calif., certificate as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer; associate in arts degree, Evergreen College, San Jose, Calif.; associate in science degree in electronic engineering technology, San Francisco City College, San Francisco, Calif.

Work Experience: Solectron Inc., Milpitas, Calif., test engineer, working in electronic production at board and system levels; Analog Devices, Inc., San Jose, Calif., senior maintenance technician; IBM, San Jose, Calif., senior technician and failure analyst

Hobbies and Interests: Music and volleyball

Parish Ministries: Choir leader, RCIA catechist, mentor for men’s Sacred Heart League group, and financial group member

Ministries of Interest in Future: Establishing parish adoration-mercy group; visiting the sick, the poor, and the needy more frequently, with visits to non-Catholics as well as Catholics; trying to help parents and children deal with cultural conflict.

Additional Languages Spoken: Vietnamese

Parish Where Assigned: Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Church, Norcross

Most Admired Person: Jesuit Father Joe Devlin, a missionary in Vietnam for five years, who then helped Vietnamese refugees. After South Vietnam fell, he went to a refugee camp in Thailand to serve the Vietnamese refugees for almost 20 years until the last one got out of the camp. He died in 1998 in California. “We called him a saint. He is always living in my heart.”

Deacon Thomas J. Sandusky

Age: 59

Date of Birth: Nov. 15, 1953

Place of Birth: Kansas City, Mo.

Family: He and his wife, Susan, have been married for 38 years and have two sons, Scott and Eric.

Education: Bachelor of business administration, Washburn University, Topeka, Kan.; master of business administration, Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo.; MAI designation, Appraisal Institute, Chicago; continuing studies in spiritual direction, Spring Hill College, Mobile, Ala.

Work Experience: Review appraiser, Wells Fargo Bank (Real Estate Technical Services), Atlanta

Hobbies and Interests: Hiking, reading, fly-fishing, golf, travel

Parish Ministries: Hospice, altar servers, men’s Bible study

Ministries of Interest in Future: Hospice, spiritual direction, teaching

Parish Where Assigned: St. Brigid Church, Johns Creek

Favorite Quote: “He has won you for Himself, and you must proclaim what He has done for you; He has called you out of darkness into His own wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Most Admired Person: The late Msgr. Paul Reynolds