Deacon Ordination: Deacon C. Curran, Deacon H. De Freitas, Deacon J. Fernandes, Deacon E. Koppi

Deacon Christopher Curran

There are many aspects of being a deacon that appeal to Deacon Christopher G. Curran. “I am told the deacons like Baptisms. Why not? Babies and young children are fun to be with,” he said.

He is excited to have the opportunity to preach and serve at the altar during Mass. “Having a hand in bringing the Word and the Eucharist to people will be great,” said the member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Whitehouse Station. “Being a servant of Christ will allow me to interact with people like I have never done before,” he said. “There will be many opportunities to serve the Church and community.”

He was ordained at The Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen on May 3.

Deacon Curran had often thought about the permanent diaconate and had asked his wife, Barbara, her thoughts about it, and they decided he should look into it. “I have been part of many charitable projects at work and the church over the years. The calling to the diaconate is an extension of that charity,” he said.

He belongs to three prayer groups, and his prayer life brings him closer to God. “Praying as part of a community group elevates my prayers. Being part of the community helps me know Christ intellectually and spiritually,” he said. “Every time the groups meet, we learn something about ourselves and about God.”

Born in South Amboy, Deacon Curran, 59, credits his parents for instilling faith in God and the Church in their nine children: “Throughout our lives they kept the conversation of God alive. My father’s love for the Eucharist and my mother’s simple faith in Jesus were powerful influences.”

Deacon Curran received a bachelor’s degree in 1999 from the College of St. Elizabeth in computer programming and a master’s of theology from Seton Hall University in 2023.

A former UPS systems programmer, he currently is a middle and high school substitute teacher in the Readington School District.

A faith formation teacher, RCIA team member and Knight of Columbus, he enjoys running, bike riding, golf and reading historical fiction.

He and his wife have two children adopted from Kazakhstan.

By Cori Urban, Contributing Editor

 

 

Deacon Harry De Freitas

Known for his own sense of humor, newly ordained Deacon Harry De Freitas hopes to use humor in his ministry as a way to put people at ease. “Many people are very serious and need to have a little laughter to break up the tension,” he said.

But he turns serious when he contemplates his call to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese and identifies the Holy Spirit, his wife and the two deacons in his parish as most influential in his answer to the call to ordained ministry.

Born in New Hyde Park, New York, and now a parishioner of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Kendall Park, Deacon De Freitas, 66, graduated from St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York, with a bachelor’s degree in government and politics with a minor in speech, communication and theater.

His recent master’s in theology degree is from Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University.

He and his wife, Janet, have three children.

Ordained in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, by Bishop James F. Checchio on May 3, Deacon De Freitas has always had a passion for loving and serving God.

“In kindergarten I was asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, and I said I wanted to be a priest. I pretended to be a priest as a child and used to make hosts out of Wonder Bread and offer Mass for my family in my living room,” he recalled.

A former project manager and senior trainer for MCII/Verizon Business, he now works as parish catechetical leader at St. Ambrose Church, Old Bridge.

He enjoys singing and writing and teaching songs to teach children about prayer or Scripture, as well as walking and praying the Rosary.

Asked what he is most looking forward to doing as a permanent deacon, he replied: “Helping the poor. Teaching the doubter, and just being a loving presence wherever and whenever I can.”

By Cori Urban, Contributing Editor

 

 

Deacon Jacinto Fernandes

Deacon Jacinto J. Fernandes has been involved in many activities at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Piscataway, but as he spent time in Adoration at the chapel, he contemplated how he could spend more time with the Lord. That desire fueled his call to the permanent diaconate, and he was ordained at The Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen by Bishop James F. Checchio on May 3.

He said “service to our loving and merciful Lord Jesus Christ and His Church” led him to pursue that calling.

Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came “to serve and not to be served.”

Deacon Fernandes is involved in different ministries at Our Lady of Fatima Parish including serving as a guardian at the Adoration chapel that is open 24 hours a day seven days a week, as an extraordinary minster of Holy Communion, a Heritage Day participant, an annual picnic participant and a finance committee member. He is the coordinator of the Corpus Christi procession, sexton, daily Mass altar server and lector.

Born in Masura, Maharashtra, India, in 1972, Deacon Fernandes attended high school there and then attended St. Andrew’s College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai, India, earning a bachelor’s degree in commerce in 1993. He later attended Aspen University in Denver, Colorado, where he earned a master’s in information management in 2008.

He works for Bank of America as a technology service lead.

Asked how he lives his faith in the workplace, he replied, “Simply just by following Jesus’ teachings.”

The deacon prays and works to bring “fellow brothers and sisters back, who have been away from the Church, to build a faithful community.”

He and his wife, Monica L. Fernandes, have two teenage daughters.

Deacon Fernandes enjoys watching sports and movies, going on treks, traveling to visit new countries, taking cruises and spending time with friends. He likes to volunteer at the events hosted at work and to lead some of those events.

By Cori Urban, Contributing Editor

 

 

Deacon Eric Koppi

Deacon Eric J. Koppi was baptized Catholic in 2009. In 2024 he was ordained to the permanent diaconate.

“I had no religious affiliation whatsoever other than being taught the Lord’s Prayer when I was six years old by my paternal grandmother,” he said.

But a conversation stuck with him that he had had in mid-2019 with Monsignor Eugene Prus who baptized him. “During that conversation, Msgr. Prus told me he thought I would make ‘great deacon material,’” recalled Deacon Koppi. “The role of service has been part of my whole life. I thought this pursuit of the permanent diaconate was a continuation of the calling the Holy Spirit gave me in 2008.”

The word “deacon” comes from the Greek word “diakonia,” which means “service.” The Order of Deacon has three essential functions: proclaiming the Gospel, serving at the liturgy and doing charitable works.

Born in Kankakee, Illinois, Deacon Koppi, 64, is a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Martinsville. He and his wife, Eileen, have two children. She supported him as he answered the call to the permanent diaconate by listening to him when he had doubts, by loving him when he felt alone. “Her wisdom and clarity of mind helped smooth my path,” he said, noting that he has looked to St. Joseph for guidance as he has pursued this calling.

He attended Illinois State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1982. He received a master’s in theology from Seton Hall University in 2023. He was ordained May 3 by Bishop James F. Checchio in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen.

A retired medical coder from RWJ Barnabas Health (Somerville and Mountainside locations), Deacon Koppi is involved in religious education at his parish and volunteers at Jewish Family Services in Somerset County, assisting the homebound by shopping and delivering their groceries along with visits of companionship.

He enjoys helping his wife with gardening and landscape projects, reading and weightlifting.

By Cori Urban, Contributing Editor