MADISON — On Friday, May 23, Bishop Robert C. Morlino will ordain three men to the transitional diaconate during a Mass at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison.
The men being ordained include Chahm Gahng, Christopher Gernetzke, and Tafadzwa Kushamba.
Two other men — Scott Emerson and Gabriel Lopez-Betanzos — will be ordained to the transitional diaconate for the Diocese of Madison on October 2 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where they are studying.
Gahng, the son of Tae-Joong Gahng and Wonshim Chung, is a member of St. Peter Parish in Madison. He is studying at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Mich., where he is completing his third year of theology studies. This summer he will have a parish deacon summer assignment at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish in Sun Prairie. He will return to Sacred Heart Major Seminary to complete his fourth year of theology studies in the fall.
Gernetzke is the son of Mary Ann and John Gernetzke of St. Paul Parish in Evansville. He attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minn., for his first three years of college seminary. He is currently completing his third year of theology studies at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.
This summer his parish deacon summer assignment will be at St. Bernard Parish and St. Henry Parish in Watertown. He will return to St. Paul Seminary to complete his fourth year of theology studies in the fall.
Kushamba, the son of Leonora and Amuri Kushamba, is a member of St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee. He attended college seminary at St. Joseph Theological Institute in Cedara, South Africa, and is currently attending Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, where he is completing his third year of theology studies. This summer he will have a parish deacon summer assignment at St. Cecilia Parish in Wisconsin Dells. He will return to Sacred Heart Major Seminary to complete his fourth year of theology studies in the fall.
The ordination Mass on May 23 is open to the public.
These three men — along with the two men studying in Rome — are expected to be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Madison in 2015.