Meet The New Deacons
On Aug. 3, Bishop Charles C. Thompson ordained 11 permanent deacons for the Diocese of Evansville. Here are their profiles.
DEACON BOB CONSLEY
Age: 58
Marital status: Married
Spouse’s name: Nancy (Strange) Consley
Date of wedding: February 14, 1986
Children’s names, ages:
Shawn Consley, 40
Angie Lagle, 37
Heather Britton, 30
Katie Consley, 24
Current hometown: Loogootee
Current parish affiliation: Martin County Catholic Churches
Place of birth: Madison, Ind.
About your family [e.g. parents’ names (note if deceased), any siblings and their names (note if deceased), anything else you want to include]:
Father: William Consley
Mother: May (Risinger) Consley (deceased)
Brothers: Larry, Terry and Tim Consley
High School attended: Trimble County High School, Bedford, Ky.
Post-secondary education:
United Electronics Institute, 1974 graduate
Diocese of Evansville Adult Formation Program, completed 2005
Attended Indiana Wesleyan University, 2006 to 2007
Diocese of Evansville Deacon Formation Program, completed 2013
Present employment: Retired
“Essay Questions”
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple? Probably the most profound experience has been my involvement in RCIA. I entered the Catholic faith through the RCIA process and eventually became involved as a sponsor, catechist and co-director. While journeying with the catechumens and candidates as they deepened their personal faith and relationship with God and others, I became more aware of our Lord’s call to live a life of service, faith and love.
List your Ministries as a deacon candidate:
Parish Musician
Senior Choir member
Lector
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
Acolyte
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville? My most immediate concern involves the Strategic Planning Initiative; it is highly likely that the four parishes of the Martin County Catholic Churches will be impacted by the results of this process. How do we reach out to parishioners who might no longer have the opportunity to worship in their current church building? How can we support them during the transition toward a newly merged parish? Will these merged parishes of the diocese be able to come together to form a new, united parish community?
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville? It is my hope that the parishes of our diocese will ultimately emerge from the Strategic Planning process stronger, revitalized and better able to meet the needs of our Catholic community.
DEACON PAUL COX
Age: 58
Marital status: Married
Spouse’s name: Amy J. Cox
Date of wedding: November 29, 1980
Children’s names, ages: Andy, 29, Emily, 28, and Will, 14
Current hometown: Rockport, Indiana
Current parish affiliation: St. Bernard in Rockport
Place of birth: Evansville
About your family [e.g. parents’ names (note if deceased), any siblings and their names (note if deceased), anything else you want to include]: Parents are Paul Leonard and Marilyn A. Cox of Hatfield, Indiana, Brother is Max Joseph Cox and wife Lisa of Rockport, Sister is Mary Jane Kirkpatrick and husband David of Rockport
High School attended: South Spencer High School
Post-secondary education: BA in Biology from Indiana University, MBA in Finance from Murray State University, and a MS in Management from Brescia University.
Present employment: Vectren Energy Delivery in Evansville
“Essay Questions”
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple? Several Adult formation classes have provided for my development spiritually. In 1990 I participated in the extremely charismatic Cursillo movement at the Catholic Center in Evansville at St. Matthew’s table. This awakened in me the reality of Jesus Christ and how important faith is for reaching one’s ultimate goal of eternal joy with our God. I have also participated in 5 Christ Renew His Parish formation and retreat teams that were very spiritual in terms of my personal faith development while at St Bernard in Rockport. The CHRP movement revealed to me how important the service of others is to a Christian and that ultimately one finds their own happiness and fulfillment in the service of others.
List your Ministries as a deacon candidate: My ministry assignment is currently designated for St Joseph’s in Dale and St Nicholas in Santa Claus in conjunction with St. Vincent de Paul and pastoral visits. I will also assist at Masses and preach when needed.
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville? That the Strategic Initiative will be successful in providing for the betterment of the Evansville Diocese and help lighten the workload for our priests while better serving the laity.
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville? My hopes for the Evansville Diocese are (1.) that all of the laity and faith communities will be served in such a manner that they can become better Roman Catholics and achieve their goal of eternal happiness through Jesus Christ’s wonderful gift to us here in this world, the Roman Catholic Church. (2.)That all of the Evansville Diocesan clergy can be better served through the Strategic Planning Process and not be anxious and stressed mentally and physically about providing for their parishes and the laity. (3.) That through the efforts of the Holy Spirit, an increase in the call for vocations to the Permanent Diaconate, the Priesthood, and various religious orders will develop to meet the needs of our Roman Catholic Church today in order that the needs of Roman Catholic Faith Community can be better served.
DEACON DAN DECASTRA
Age: 52
Marital status: Married
Spouse’s name: Nancy June
Date of wedding: 5/28/1983
Children’s names, ages: Matthew Peter 26, Kelly Renee, 24, Thomas Allen, 21
Current hometown: Newburgh
Current parish affiliation: St. John the Baptist, transferring to Good Shepherd with assignment
Place of birth Decatur, Ala.
About your family [e.g. parents’ names (note if deceased), any siblings and their names (note if deceased), anything else you want to include]: Joseph DeCastra (father), Mary DeCastra (deceased 2006), Joseph (oldest brother), Frank, Mike, John, myself, Marie (deceased in 2004). Dad was an only child and a convert, mom cradle Catholic.
High School attended: Decatur High School
Post-secondary education: University of Alabama in Huntsville
Present employment: IPL Petersburg Power Plant
“Essay Questions”
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple? All through my life I have been active in different areas of the church. I became a member of the Knights of Columbus at eighteen. Since coming to Newburgh (in 1998), I believe my work with the Boy Scouts Catholic Program started my formation to thinking about the Deaconate. The Scout Adult Formation Program showed me I was to continue my spiritual formation until death. This also included the annual Scout Retreat at St Meinrad. Working with the fellow Catholic men with strong faith was a true blessing from God in forming me.
List your Ministries as a deacon candidate: To focus on my deacon formation classes, I dropped out of Boy Scouting and only attended one or two of the Knights of Columbus functions each year. I did remain active in the church bible studies.
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville? That a great number of people will be hurt in one form or another with the many changes coming to our diocese that are not fully understood. As clergy and people of faith, we must not overlook or ignore this issue.
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville? That with the changes, people will grow to understand the Catholic Church in Evansville is a bigger family than the parish they are active in. As a bigger family we will be able to minister in more ways, but also having the security of the smaller faith family. From these changes, we grow stronger in our faith life to the point it becomes contagious and spreads to all our neighbors.
DEACON JOSE GARRIDO
Age: 52
Marital status: married
Spouse’s name: Nelida Rivera
Date of wedding: 12/11/1993
Current hometown: Evansville
Current parish affiliation: Nativity Parish
Place of birth: San Juan, Puerto Rico
About your family [e.g. parents’ names (note if deceased), any siblings and their names (note if deceased), anything else you want to include]:
Father was born in Zaragoza, Spain, and met my mother in Santiago of Compostela, Spain, while she was a student in the University of Santiago De Compostela. Mother was born in San Juan of Puerto Rico. My father immigrated to Puerto Rico. Mother is still alive and living in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Born from a family of seven brothers and one is deceased from a motorcycle accident in 2005.
High School attended: San Ignacio de Loyola HS. Puerto Rico
Post-secondary education: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Present employment: Department of Veterans Administration
“Essay Questions”
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple?
My active participation in the Legion of Mary of Holy Spirit Parish, with the help of the Holy Spirit through our blessed Virgin Mary by reciting daily the Rosary, and visiting, praying and giving communion to the home-bound and hospitalized parish members, have greatly influence my interest in becoming deacon of the Church of Christ.
List your Ministries as a deacon candidate:
Sacramental instruction of the Latino community, including adult formation in a local parish of the Evansville diocese.
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville?
My great concern for the Diocese of Evansville is not having enough resources to educate and promote Catholic education of excellence to all ethnical and socio-economical groups of people which are involved in the diocese.
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville?
My dream is to have complete integration of all religious groups of people into the Catholic Church and for all to have full participation in the spiritual life of the Church, respecting each others’ ethnical traditions and cultures of origin.
DEACON JOHN HUETHER
Age: 61
Marital status: Married
Spouse’s name: Jane
Date of wedding: January 10, 1976
Children’s names, ages:
Emily, 31, married to Josh Fleischer
Dominic, 26
Andrew, 25
Current hometown: Ireland
Current parish affiliation: St. Joseph, Jasper
Place of birth Mineola, NY
About your family [e.g. parents’ names (note if deceased), any siblings and their names (note if deceased), anything else you want to include]:
Father: George Huether 11-10-01
Mother: Betty Huether 11-29-97
No siblings
High School attended: Herricks HS, New Hyde Park, NY
Post-secondary education: Saint Meinrad College
Present employment: Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Seminary and School of Theology, Development Office
“Essay Questions”
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple?
I’ve been a liturgical musician (guitar and vocals) since 1969. As a college seminarian at Saint Meinrad, I experienced many types of ministry programs. Later, as a married couple, Jane and I were active members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at our parish in Atlanta. I’ve been the music leader at many CRHP retreats, Boy Scout retreats and campouts, and, for 14 years, at the Spanish Mass at St. Joseph, Jasper. Jane and I taught freshman high school religion for several years at St. Joseph parish. I’m also a lector and Eucharistic minister. For the past twelve years, Jane and I have assisted at Mass, the Rosary and a communion service at St. Charles Health Campus in Jasper. I’m an associate member of the Legion of Mary and a Benedictine Oblate of Saint Meinrad.
List your Ministries as a deacon candidate:
My assignment is to assist Fr. Gary Kaiser at Precious Blood Parish, Jasper and St. Mary, Ireland. In addition to the regular ministries of a permanent deacon, my duties will include visiting shut-ins and parishioners in the hospital, assisting at Mass, and continuing the communion ministry to the residents at St. Charles Health Campus, Jasper.
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville?
I believe the Diocese of Evansville is in good hands and has many wonderful programs to promote the Gospel message. One of my concerns is the need for more education of the Catechism and the teachings of the Church for adults. Programs like “Why Catholic” seem to be successful. I would also like to see more outreach to members of our Latino community.
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville?
I hope to use my knowledge and skills to serve Bishop Thompson well and pray that God will use me for whatever work he desires.
DEACON WILLIAM KELLER
Age: 47
Marital status: Married
Spouse’s name: Carol (Ambs) Keller
Date of wedding: 09-05-1992
Children’s names, ages: Haley, 20; Regina, 18; Matthew, 13
Current hometown: Rockport
Current parish affiliation: St. Bernard, Rockport and St. Martin, Chrisney
Place of birth: Owensboro, Ky.
About your family [e.g. parents’ names (note if deceased), any siblings and their names (note if deceased), anything else you want to include]:
Parents: Martin (deceased) and Doris Keller of Owensboro, KY
Brothers and Sister: Ken (brother) and Linda Keller of Owensboro, KY; Ryan and Kate (sister) Meade of Utica, KY; Todd (brother) and Carolyn Keller of Douglasville, GA; Doug and Sharon (deceased) Ambs of Reo, IN; Larry and Janet Ambs of Rockport, IN; Neil and Judy Maddock of Stockbridge, GA; Bobby and Carolyn Ambs of Chrisney, IN; Joe and Becky Hagedorn of Rockport, IN; Mike and Debbie Ambs of Rockport, IN; Rick and Robin Ambs of Tell City, IN; Kenny and Theresa Ambs of Owensboro, KY; Chris and Vicky Ambs of Santa Claus, IN
High School attended: Owensboro Catholic High School (Class of ’84)
Post-secondary education: Diocese of Evansville Permanent Deacon Program
Present employment: The City of Henderson, KY: Henderson Water Utility
“Essay Questions”
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple?
I have been a catechist for the R.C.I.A. program at St. Bernard’s for about 15 years. I am also involved in the Religious Ed programs for High School and Middle School kids.
List your Ministries as a deacon candidate:
As a deacon candidate I served as Acolyte, Sacristan, Lector, Director of R.C.I.A., and catechist for High School and Middle School Religious Ed.
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville?
My main concern for the Diocese of Evansville is for vocations. I am not concerned with the apparent declining number of priests. I am confident the Holy Spirit will call men to serve and those same men will respond. My concern is that we no longer seem to encourage our young people to pursue religious vocations. We seem to have adopted an attitude of dissuasion regarding vocations, whether intentional or unintentional.
Society measures success according to salary. Whoever dies with the most toys wins. The parents of a young man, or a young woman, who might consider a religious vocation want grandchildren. So our gut reaction whenever someone expresses interest in the priesthood or religious life is to say, “There's no money in that.” Or, “If you're going to spend 8 or 9 years in college you might as well become a doctor or a lawyer.”
Of course, celibacy is a drawback to the priesthood. Celibacy is viewed by most people as simply not being able to have sex. Isn't that a shame? They should know that celibacy is the ultimate act of love. It is the total gift of one’s self to the service of our Lord and God. Someone should explain that to them. If they had a better understanding of true love they would be more inclined to promote the priesthood and religious life to their children. There might be a paradigm shift. Fathers would say to their sons, “You want be a doctor? If you're going to spend 8 or 9 years in school, you might as well become a priest!”
Church attendance concerns me. Is it down everywhere in the diocese? It seems to be. I don't get it. You can tell someone, “You can have eternal life and live forever in complete joy and happiness if you'll come to Mass and tell God you love Him. You'll be home in less than 2 hours.” Yet they respond, “You know what? I think I'll just stay home and be an idiot.” Of course, they word it differently but the meaning is the same.
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville?
My hopes for the Diocese of Evansville are that the Strategic Planning will enlighten people regarding the complexity and the diversity of the Catholic Church, even at the diocesan level. I hope they will realize the Church extends well beyond parish boundaries. The Body of Christ covers the whole world. While things may seem bad, or even bleak, it is not permanent. I hope people know things will improve.
I hope it doesn't take a tragedy to make people realize there is a God. I hope they realize God loves them, that His love is not offensive, and there is plenty of God’s love to go around. I hope people realize that life is precious and that when the sperm enters the egg it is by the power of the Holy Spirit. I hope they realize that these two cells become one and there is a soul woven in the fabric of this new, fully human creation; a soul that is whole and complete. And I hope people realize that this child, from the moment of conception, can love the Lord our God.
I dream of the day when the churches are overcrowded and people arrive for Mass an hour early so they can get a seat. My dream is that we will grow in love and amazement for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I dream of the day when the Tabernacle becomes our T.V. And, finally, I dream of the day we are reunited in the Kingdom of Heaven.
DEACON THOMAS KIRSCH
Age: 63
Marital status: Married 41 years
Spouse's name: Dolores
Date of Wedding: 4/8/72
Children's names, ages: Catherine(Cathy) 40, Thomas II (Tommy) 38,
Twins-Sarah and Matthew 36, Maria 34, Charlene 32, Joanna 30,
Twins- Lucas and Elizabeth (Lizzy) 28.
Current hometown: St. Philips Indiana Evansville Address
Current parish affiliation: St. Philip - Mt. Vernon, In
Place of Birth: St. Mary’s Hospital Evansville, Indiana
About your family: Parents: Charles and Loyola Kirsch(deceased)
Brothers: Charles Jr, Michael (deceased), Bernard(Bernie), Joseph (Joe),
Gerard (Tony) and Robert (Bob)
Sisters: Elizabeth (Lizzy) deceased, Loyola (Mary)
High School attended: Rex Mundi class of 1968
Post-secondary education: Two Years University of Evansville
Present employment: Retired (5 years) Local 136 Plumbers and Pipe-fitters
"Essay Questions"
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple?
I have taught the CCD and RCIA classed for St. Philip
List your Ministries as a deacon candidate:
Lay Minister, Lector, Choir member, Member of the Stewardship Committee Member of Posey County Right to Life
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville?
The implementation of Strategic Planning be done in charitable and accommodating way.
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville?
Increased vocations to priesthood, deaconate and sisters. Formation of single young adult group for those out of high school at St. Philips.
DEACON RICHARD LEIBUNDGUTH
Age: 64
Marital status: Married 40 years on 10/06/2013
Spouse’s name: Barbara J. Leibundguth (nee-Weigele)
Date of wedding: 10/06/1973
Children’s names, ages: Jessica G. Wells, 38; Mandy J. Lottes, 34; Carrie E. Gist, 30.
Current hometown: Newburgh
Current parish affiliation: St. John Evangelist, Daylight
Place of birth: Butler, Penn.
About your family [e.g. parents’ names (note if deceased), any siblings and their names (note if deceased), anything else you want to include]: Father-Henry Leibundguth, deceased; Mother-Marian E. (Whitman)Leibundguth, deceased; Sister-Joyce E. Webb; Brother-Alan H. Leibundguth; Sister-Susan Carpenter; Sister-Nancy J. Jones.
High School attended: Wm. Henry Harrison-Evansville
Post-secondary education: Indiana State University- Terre Haute, IN
Present employment: Retired professional flight instructor/charter pilot and corporate Chief Pilot for Black Beauty Coal Co., and Citation LLC.
“Essay Questions”
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple? Working with both candidates and catechumens in various RCIA parishes.
List your Ministries as a deacon: 1. Proclaim the Gospel at weekend and weekday Masses, 2. Preach once a month at weekend Masses and every third week dailey Masses, 3. Hospital visitation every Monday and Tuesday, 4.Minister of the Cup at weekend Masses, 5. Coordinate RCIA, 6. Chaplin for the Daughters of America, 7. Lead Baptism Classes and perform baptisms outside Mass, 8. Go-to guy for Sunday bulletin article in absence of pastor J!!
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville? The priest shortage and lack of vocations for the future.
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville? I am hoping for a relatively smooth transition with implementation of the strategic planning process.
DEACON RUSSELL MAPLES
Age: 44
Marital status: Married
Spouse’s name: Cindy Maples
Date of wedding: 2/09/01
Current hometown: Evansville
Current parish affiliation: St. Boniface
Place of birth: Frankfort, Ky.
About your family [e.g. parents’ names (note if deceased), any siblings and their names (note if deceased), anything else you want to include]: Jerry and Patricia Maples
High School attended: Western Hills High School
Post-secondary education: Kentucky State University
Present employment: Program Director for South Central Media
“Essay Questions”
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple?
I would say that one of the most gratifying experiences I have had would be helping with Communion Services at the Evansville State Hospital and taking communion to the elderly at nursing homes. It’s a reminder that all of God’s children need to be fed.
List your Ministries as a deacon candidate:
RCIA, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Communion Services at Evansville State Hospital.
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville?
Most of my immediate concerns involve how our diocese will continue to develop with changes in Parishes involving Strategic Planning. However, I do share a concern that I am sure many of the faithful have. As Catholics, how do we continue to spread the Gospel in a world that appears to be in conflict with the message?
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville?
It is my hope that the short-term pain we may experience through consolidation will lead us to be even stronger Parishes with better attendance, less stress on our Priests and ultimately a stronger family at a Parish level.
It is also my hope that we continue to find ways to bring people into the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Evansville and find ways to keep our young people as they grow into adulthood
DEACON JOSEPH SIEWERS
Age: 53
Marital status: Married
Spouse’s name: Rebecca Epperson Siewers
Date of wedding: November 15, 2008
Children’s names, ages: Derek Epperson, 37; Kara Epperson Martin, 29; Jerod Siewers, 27.
Current hometown: Jasper
Current parish affiliation: Holy Family
Place of birth: Vincennes
About your family [e.g. parents’ names (note if deceased), any siblings and their names (note if deceased), anything else you want to include]: Parents, Robert C. Siewers (deceased) and Helen Holtman Siewers residing in Vincennes. One sister, Betsy Brand and three brothers, Jeff, Robert (deceased), and Leo
High School attended: North Knox High School
Post-secondary education: Indiana Vocational Technical School received A.S.S.
Present employment: Boeckman’s Furniture Jasper
“Essay Questions”
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple?
Nothing can compare to the conversion experience that I had on a Christ Renews His Parish Weekend at Holy Family Parish that launched me into service to my brothers and sisters in my parish along with service to my God in the Liturgy.
List your Ministries as a deacon candidate:
Core Coordinator for renew 2000; Catechist; Participated in three music groups and led a fourth group; Lector, and trained for six months to become a Stephen Minister which is ministry to the afflicted and those in crisis within the parish.
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville?
My first concern is our priests and the stress they face in their care for the parishes that they pastor. Their workload cannot continue at this level without some kind of issue arising for them either mentally, physically, or spiritually. Strategic Planning is addressing this issue; but, have we, as parishioners, done enough to give relief to our priests?
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville?
Parish boundaries have existed for many years. It would be wonderful to create a retreat center in a location accessible by all parishes in the middle of the diocese from Evansville; to Jasonville; to Evanston that would relax these boundaries, uniting the parishes to bring service to those in need throughout the diocese.
DEACON CLETUS YOCHUM JR.
Age: 51
Marital status: Married 25 yrs.
Spouse’s name: Cathy E. (Wright) Yochum
Date of wedding: Oct. 15 1988 St. Vincent de Paul, Vincennes
Children’s names, ages: Christa (Wright) Buchhorn, Caryn and Catlin Yochum
Current hometown: Vincennes
Current parish affiliation: Saint Thomas the Apostle in Saint Thomas, Indiana
Place of birth: Vincennes
About your family [e.g. parents’ names (note if deceased), any siblings and their names (note if deceased), anything else you want to include]:
I am 1 of 14 children of Cletus and Cecilia (Scholmer) Yochum both deceased. Siblings: Margaret, Tom, Delores (deceased), Mary, Betty, Cecelia, Barbra, Aggie, David, Theresa, Nancy, Joey (deceased), Dan
High School attended: Lincoln High School
Post-secondary education: Vincennes University, Saint Meinrad School of Theology Diaconate Formation
Present employment: 33 yrs. WBM / Niehaus Lumber Company
“Essay Questions”
What experience have you had in Church ministry that has helped you develop as a disciple? I have been a Server of the Alter since age 11. Mid/High School Catechist for 19 years also involved in youth ministry and Christ Renews His Parish weekends.
List your Ministries as a deacon candidate: Lector, Eucharistic ministry, visiting with the elderly, home bound and the faithful in hospital care, Sacristan, serving and assisting Deacons and Priests at Mass, Baptisms and funerals services.
What are your concerns for the Diocese of Evansville? The declining numbers in the vocations for the Priesthood and Religious Orders. The increasing numbers of C & E1 Catholics in our community. It sad in our day and age of convenience more and more people take less time to spend time with God at either Saturday/Sunday service and especially on Holy Days of Obligation.
1) Catholics that only attend Mass on Christmas and Easter
What are your hopes and dreams for the Diocese of Evansville?
That we continue in our service to God’s people with the desire, love and strength of the Holy Trinity in the works of God as did the early missionaries and (Servant of God) Bishop Simon Brute, who brought God to early Indiana and is today continued under the guidance of Bishop Charles Thompson, priests, deacons, religious and laity of God’s Church in the Diocese of Evansville.
To live in the presence and guidance of the Saints is to live to be one with God who lives, shares and evangelizes in the world for the love of God, in the eyes of God, for we are all His adopted children, His Church. By living the works of charity of our Father, taught to us by His Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, with the inspiration and strength of the Holy Spirit, as we, God’s people, work together to strengthen the faithful in their acts of charity for the underprivileged of the community, God’s community.
