Bishop Mark will ordain three men to the Sacred Order of Deacon during a Mass on June 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona.
The three candidates for ordination are John Fontana of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Johnstown, Matthew Marafino of All Saints Parish in Boswell, and Walter Zapotoczny of Saint Joseph Parish in Bellwood.
Fontana, 60, is a retired member of the U.S. Marine Corps and is currently a caseworker for the Department of Health and Human Services and resides in Johnstown.
He and his wife, Julie, are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren.
Marafino, a resident of Jennerstown, is 61 and is a professor of English and Speech at Allegany College of Maryland in Cumberland.
He and his wife, Teresa, are blessed with three children and a grandson.
Zapotoczny, 37, lives in Altoona with his wife, Melissa.
He is an assistant professor and program coordinator of computer technology at Penn Highlands Community College.
Fontana, Marafino, and Zapotoczny will join the ranks of 29 other active deacons in the diocese and 14 senior deacons who remain active.
There are also several other men in formation for the permanent diaconate, a ministry rooted in service.
Among other things, deacons assist the Bishop and priests at the altar, proclaim the Gospel, baptize, and witness marriages.
Many deacons are active in hospital ministry, prison ministry, and parish ministries.
[Photo (left to right): Deacon candidates Walter Zapotoczny and John Fontana; Bishop Mark; deacon candidate Matthew Marafino; and Deacon Michael Russo, Director of the Permanent Diaconate.]Â
