Called to serve ... Bishop to ordain 13 to permanent diaconate
By Mary Gorry Staff Reporter

Louis Anetrella, 58, and his wife Eileen are the parents of four children. A parishioner of Christ the King Church in Commack, he is involved in youth ministry, is the co-chair of the building committee, and serves as a religious instructor. He received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from New York Institute of Technol-ogy and works as an administrator in the radiology department of St. Charles Hos-pital. He is looking forward to serving as a pre-Cana and baptism moderator, in addition to conducting weddings, funerals and baptisms.

William Casey, 60, is a medical librarian and director of a health sciences library. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University and his master’s degree from the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. He developed, implemented and maintained the diaconate program Web site for the diocese, and is looking forward to working in the ministries of baptism, social communications, wake and bereavement, wedding intake, and assisting at Sunday Mass. He and his wife, Lorraine Lein-Casey, have three children and are parishioners of St. Patrick’s Church in Huntington. In his spare time, he enjoys photography and working with computers.

Raymond D’Alessio, 49, and his wife, Nancy, live in Upper Brookville with their two daughters. Besides being a member of the advisory board for the diocesan Propagation of the Faith and Mission Office, he serves in his parish of St. Edward the Confessor in Syosset as the chair of the parish capital committee, on the parish dinner dance and annual golf outing committees, and with the diocesan missions appeals. He has worked in the jewelry and watch industry for 18 years and is president of International Time Products, Inc. He expects to serve in hospital ministry, liturgical planning, working with seniors, and the diocesan mission office appeals as a deacon. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and wine collecting.

At St. Joseph’s Church in Ronkonkoma, Frank Dell’Aglio, 53, serves on the finance committee, in pre-Cana, and as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Villanova University and serves as the executive director of a law firm. As a deacon, he will serve in pre-Cana, RCIA, and counseling. He and his wife, Kathryn, reside in Port Jefferson and have two children. He also tries to find time for golf, reading, and travel.

William Dobbins, 48, lives in Ronkon-koma with his wife, Blanca, and their two children. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and has worked as a county clerk for Suffolk County District Court for 25 years. At St. Joseph’s Church, he serves as a catechist, lector, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and Renew 2000 facilitator. He will serve as the coordinator of the confirmation program as a deacon. He also enjoys baseball, traveling and Broadway shows.

Lawrence Faulkenberry, 44, and his wife, Christina, reside in East Hampton and are parishioners of Most Holy Trinity Church there. He serves in marriage preparation, on the liturgy committee, the Gallup committee, and is on the parish council. He earned his bachelor’s degree in emergency management from Empire State College. A member of the U.S. Army Reserve and a retired New York City Transit Police officer, he currently works in private investigation, trial preparation and legal support services. As a deacon, he will serve in marriage preparation, on the liturgy committee, and in RCIA. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing.

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Patchogue, Anthony Graviano, 61, is a member of the baptism prep and pre-Cana teams, and serves as a catechist and in confirmation prep. A Vietnam veteran with the U.S. Army, he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dowling College and works as a banker and operations officer. He and his wife, Kathleen, reside in Medford and are the parents of two children. In his free time, he enjoys music, sports and golf. He is looking forward to continuing his work with pre-Cana and baptism as a deacon, as well as working with the parish youth group and parish outreach.

Thomas Lucie, 50, and his wife, Maria, are parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes in West Islip and have two daughters. An insurance agent, he received his bachelor’s degree in management from Hofstra University. He is currently working on his master’s degree in theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary. He expects to serve his parish in pre-Cana and stewardship. He enjoys running and skiing in his free time.

Paul Neuhedel, 44, is an avid sports fan and enjoys bike riding and playing with his five children. He and his wife, Rebecca Tolson Neuhedel, live in Massapequa Park. He is also active in his parish, Maria Regina in Seaford, where he is a member of the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus, and where he serves as a religious education teacher, lector, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, homebound minister, and on the parish building restoration committee. He earned his bachelor’s degree in public affairs and political science from Albany State University and his master’s degree in technological systems management from Stony Brook University. He works as an investment banker and executive director of JP Morgan Securities. Having lost his son, Luke, to cancer six years ago, he is also one of the founding board members and current treasurer of the Luke Neuhedel Foundation, which raises money to improve the quality of life of children with cancer and to fund treatments and research of pediatric cancer. As a deacon, he will concentrate on baptism ministry, marriage preparation, and altar servers.

Luis Polanco, 50, already serves the Hispanic community at St. Matthew’s Church in Dix Hills. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education in his native Dominican Republic and works as a social worker. He is looking forward to serving his parish through preaching, teaching, and in pre-Cana and baptism as a deacon. He also tries to find time for music, reading, and gardening. He and his wife, Xiomara, live in Holbrook.

John Rieger, 48, and his wife, Ellen, live in Greenlawn with their four daughters. An attorney and restaurant owner, he earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Cathedral College and his law degree from New York Law School. He serves on the Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative, the liturgy committee, the golf outing committee and as a cantor at his parish, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Centerport. Besides serving in the sacramental ministries of a deacon, he also expects to work in parish outreach, youth ministry, and to continue his work on the liturgy committee. He enjoys playing the guitar, reading, and playing golf in his free time.

At St. Agnes Church in Greenport, Jeffrey Sykes, 60, serves as a community action center volunteer, RCIA facilitator, and Renew 2000 facilitator. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and his master’s degree in liberal studies from Stony Brook University and his master’s degree in theology from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. He currently works as a director of religious education. He and his wife, Suzanne, have two daughters and in his spare time, he enjoys gardening and computer repair.

Edward Tappin, 65, and his wife, Margaret, have four children. A parishioner of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Holbrook, he is the blood drive chairperson and a volunteer fireman. He works as a senior electrical designer and is looking forward to serving his parish as a deacon in pre-Cana and continuing as fire department chaplain. He also enjoys camping and teaching in his free time.