From left: Deacon Michael Bartholomew, Deacon Janusz Mocarski, Deacon Harold Noviello, Deacon Gregory Rannazzisi

Rockville Centre — The four men to be ordained priests for the Rockville Centre Diocese this month have in the past held various titles that include waiter, accountant, English tutor to the Swiss Guard, social worker and endoscopic technician, but all four men are most enthusiastic about being called “Father.”

On June 13 at St. Agnes Cathedral, Bishop Murphy will ordain three men who have been in formation at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington. The fourth, who was sent by the diocese to study at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, will be ordained at St. Agnes on June 27.

All four men, Deacons Michael Bartholomew, Janusz Mocarski, Harold Noviello and Greg Rannazzisi, say they are anxious to serve the people of Long Island. While Deacon Rannazzisi will return to Rome for one more year to complete his Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology, the others will receive their assignments from Bishop Murphy upon their ordination.

Ranging in age from 26 to 47, the candidates for priesthood come from diverse backgrounds but share some common traits. Deacon Mocarski was born and raised in Poland. The other three men attended Catholic elementary schools on Long Island and all attended St. Anthony’s High School; Deacon Noviello when the school was located in Smithtown and Deacons Bartholomew and Rannazzisi after it moved to South Huntington.

Msgr. James McDonald, the rector at Immaculate Conception Seminary, said the three men who make up the class of 2009 there “all have a genuine holiness, sincerity and kindness and the ability to help others. They really want to work with the Church. They want to learn and to build up the Church.”"

“They have all been tremendous role models for the men in the other classes,” he added, singling out especially Deacon Noviello, who suffers from kidney disease and needs dialysis three times a week. “He has never complained and has been at everything (throughout his seminary training). Harold has a tremendously kind heart and has learned to live with his disability.”

The youngest candidate, Deacon Rannazzisi, has known he was called to the priesthood for the longest time. Msgr. Charles Guarino, who was pastor at SS. Philip and James in St. James when Deacon Rannazzisi was growing up there, knew of the boy’s desire to be a priest from the time he became an altar server. “There was no doubt in my mind as I watched him, especially at the altar. He had such a great devotion to the Eucharist,” he recalled.

Profiles on each priest:

Deacon Michael Bartholomew

Deacon Janusz Mocarski

Deacon Harold Noviello

Deacon Gregory Rannazzisi