Welcome to the Office for Diaconate Formation!
Within the Office of Diaconate Formation, we are prepared to assist you on behalf of the Church, with the support of your local community of faith and collaboratively, with your pastor in discerning a deeper response to your "… encounter with Christ…"
Please explore our web-pages as their imagery and content are offered in service to you as our initial attempt to "…meet you where you are…" On behalf of all of us in the Office for Diaconate Formation we are, in the words of John Paul II, "Totus Tuus"- "All Yours" in service!
Meet our staff who will help you with any question about the Diaconate Formation Program:
I have been married to my wife Maryann for thirty-one years. We have two grown sons, Michael and Christopher. Originally from the New Jersey seashore town of Point Pleasant, we have called the Milwaukee area home for over twenty-eight years. I completed my college (B.S. in Biology ‘75) and graduate (M.S. Biological Science ‘78) studies at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.
I spent the first twenty years of my work life as an Industrial Microbiologist, working in the areas of research & development, process control, quality control/assurance, contract manufacturing/research of genetically modified micro-organisms, manufacturing supervision, and finally as plant manager.
Following diaconal formation (which began in 1992) in the Certificate Division at St. Francis DeSales Seminary in Milwaukee I was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1996. I subsequently completed a Masters of Arts in Pastoral Studies from the Seminary in 2004.
While in formation, I left my secular career (in 1995) and became Pastoral Associate at St. Bernadette Parish in Milwaukee. I spent six years as Pastoral Associate before accepting the position with the Archdiocese. During that time I was responsible for youth and adult catechetical programs, sacramental preparation, and pastoral care. My pastoral experience includes ministry to people in prison, hospitals, nursing homes, homebound, hospice, and with HIV/AIDS. I have been the spiritual director for the local conference of St. Vincent DePaul, and served as the liaison to the human concerns committee at my previous parish. I am a trained spiritual companion.
In 2001 I joined the St. Francis deSales Seminary staff as Associate Director of the Certificate Division responsible for both deacon and ecclesial lay ministry formation. In 2007, with the reorganization of the Central Offices I became the Director of the Office for Diaconate Formation, a department within the John Paul II Center for Lifelong Faith & Ministry Formation of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. I am currently responsible for the formation of deacons for the Archdiocese and the reorganization of the program to comply with the new National Directory for the Formation, Life and Ministry of Permanent Deacons in the United States promulgated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop, with Vatican approval in 2004.
Dc. John Ebel (English)
Director
414-758-2212
ebelj@archmil.org
I was born in Puerto Rico in 1970. I have involved in catechesis, youth groups and adult formation for almost 27 years. I have a Bachelor Degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico and a Master Degree in Theology from the Dominican College of Theology in the Central University of Bayamon, Puerto Rico. I was a teacher in Catholic School in the area of Religion Education.
I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2000 to develop formation programs for the Latino Community in the area of catechesis, lay ministry formation and liturgy. With this back ground and studies, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee granted me the Advance certification in Religious Education.
Part of my work in the Archdiocese was the translation and adaptation of the Religious education Curriculums, developing a Spanish Catechist Formation (trainings) Programs for the growing Latino Community. I have been a teacher for the Diaconate and Lay Ministry Formation Program at Saint Francis Seminary in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. I was assigned as Associate Director for the Office of Child Ministry and Sacramental Preparation for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and now I am working as Associate Director in the Office for Diaconate Formation in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. My experiences in the multicultural environment and my knowledge of the Popular Religiosity bring an awareness of a Multicultural Church and the unity in the diversity.
Manuel Maldonado-Villalobos (English or Español)
Associate Director
414-758-2207
maldonadom@archmil.org
I was born and raised in the Hartford, WI area. I have been married to Scott for 23 years. We have two children, Philip and Catherine. I served at St. Catherine of Alexandria (Granville) for 4 years as a volunteer catechist before being hired as Christian Formation Assistant, a position I held for 10 years. The last two years of my tenure at St. Catherine I was Administrative Assistant for the Parish and the Christian Formation Program. My background and experience in both positions has led me to join the staff at the Office for Diaconate Formation.
Charmaine Pfeifer
Administrative Assistant
414-758-2202
pfeiferc@archmil.org