TOLEDO - Bishop Leonard P. Blair will ordain nine men to the permanent diaconate at Toledo Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral Sept. 15 at 11 a.m.

Deacon Alfredo Diaz, vicar for deacons, notes much of the formation has been uniquely marked by the new guidelines for deacon preparation described in the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the U.S. issued by the U.S. bishops several years ago.

The directory focuses on four aspects of formation - human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral - and ties them together in a meaningful way, Deacon Diaz explains. Tying all these dimensions together has been a very solid development, he says.

"They're nine very well-prepared men, and I think they're really going to be an asset to the Diocese of Toledo. The group is well versed in many different areas of pastoral ministry," adds Father William Kubacki, director of deacon formation. "It's a very diverse group," says Fr. Kubacki. "They represent all areas of the diocese."

Douglas Bullimore of Toledo Little Flower joined the Catholic church in 2001 after having served as a Protestant pastor for 20 years. He has been an RCIA team member, lector, eucharistic minister and liturgical committee member. He also has conducted Bible studies and trained servers and eucharistic ministers. As a deacon, Mr. Bullimore says he is looking forward to serving the people of God in any way the Lord directs him. Mr. Bullimore is employed as an enrollment services representative at Owens Community College. He and his wife, Sally Ann, have a blended family of five children.

Jose Antonio Garcia, a long-time parishioner of Toledo SS. Peter & Paul, says as a deacon he looks forward to continuing to help others and assisting in any way he can in his parish. He is a eucharistic minister and has coordinated Bible studies and taught baptism classes to parents and godparents with the help of his wife, Hilda. He also has been involved in the Cursillo movement and in prison ministry. Mr. Garcia has worked in the production department of Wonderbread for many years. He and his wife have one child.

James Heyman, a corporate manufacturing engineer with Federal Mogul Corporation, is a member of Fremont St. Joseph. Over the years he has been involved in migrant ministry and bereavement ministry, and has been a eucharistic minister to the homebound. He has also been on the parish RCIA team and the diocesan pastoral response team, and presides regularly at parish Communion services and ecumenical prayer services at a local retirement home. After he became a lector, Mr. Heyman says he was drawn into other ministries that led him to feel called to the diaconate. He says he enjoys being with people and hopes to do whatever he can to improve the lives of others. Mr. Heyman and his wife, Patricia, have four children.

Mark Kern, a material/data control supervisor for Whirlpool Marion Division, has been a member of Findlay St. Michael for most of his life and has taught religious education, led funeral vigil prayer services and has been a part of the engaged couples team, infant baptism team and Sunday hospital Eucharist team. As a deacon, he hopes to bring the love of Jesus to all in any ministry he does. A cradle Catholic, Mr. Kern relates he started going to church with his family more regularly while they lived in Oklahoma for a few years, and he woke up one night feeling God was calling him to the diaconate. The next morning his wife, Carrie, expressed a desire that she and their three children would be baptized. They joined the Catholic Church in 1998, and the family grew in the faith together. When they moved back to Findlay in 2001, the pastor at St. Michael referred Mr. Kern to the lay ministry program so he could begin preparation to become a deacon.

Lawrence Schimmoeller, a lifelong parishioner of Fort Jennings St. Joseph, says as a deacon he hopes to help others utilize the sacraments more fully and use the faith effectively in their daily lives through service and understanding of the word of God. He has served as a lector, eucharistic minister and chairman of the parish finance council, and wrote a booklet as a training resource for lectors and eucharistic ministers. He also wrote a booklet explaining the meaning of symbols, furnishings and spaces in the church building, which he uses as a tool for teaching high school religious education classes. Mr. Schimmoeller is the president, CEO and director of Ft. Jennings State Bank and its parent company FJSB Bancshares, Inc. He and his wife, Jan, have four children.

James Schortgen, a longtime member of Hamler St. Paul and current parishioner of Holgate St. Mary, has been a lector, eucharistic minister, parish council member and an officer in the Disciples of Christ. For his field ministry, he began and teaches a religious education program for high school students. As a deacon, Mr. Schortgen says he hopes to work toward bringing fallen-away Catholics back to Mass and to teach baptismal instruction. Mr. Schortgen is a transportation manager with the Ohio Department of Transportation. He and his wife, Marilyn, have four children.

Gary Thrun of Perrysburg St. Rose has organized and led many programs for adult spiritual formation and catechesis at his parish. He initiated and chaired an adult formation and religious education committee and helped bring Christ Renews His Parish to St. Rose. Mr. Thrun gained significant experience with Caring Services Home Hospice and Nursing Care during the two years that his father was under hospice care. He has recently been involved in prison ministry with a team that puts on a retreat at Richland Correctional Institution in Mansfield. He says he has always had a desire to grow in his relationship with Christ and to help others do the same. Mr. Thrun is the retired president and owner of a nationwide cleaning service. He and his wife, Christine, have four children.

Joseph Timbrook, who has been a member of Hicksville St. Michael for most his life, has been involved in catechesis, youth ministry, Christ Renews His Parish formation and has worked on a variety of parish committees. He also is involved in many liturgical ministries, leads Communion services and is in the charismatic prayer group. In preparation for the diaconate he taught a formation program to the Fathers of the Conquest Boys about the cardinal virtues, and implemented a baptismal preparation team to teach parents and godparents. Mr. Timbrook says he feels called to spread the love of Christ, and hopes to help people discern God's will for them in their lives. Mr. Timbrook is an independent sales representative for Polar, Inc., and he and his wife, Dianna, have three children.

Benjamin Valdez, an employee of General Motors Powertrain, has been a member of Leipsic St. Mary Parish for more than 40 years. He has been involved in the Guadalupe Society, parish and school councils, ministry to migrant workers and prisoners, and numerous liturgical ministries. He also has been a church groundskeeper. In preparation for the diaconate, he has shared God's word by leading small community groups and teaching religion in the parish. As a deacon, Mr. Valdez says he hopes to be the best servant he can be. Mr. Valdez has four children with his wife, Raquel.