25th ordination
Deacon Robert DePyper
Birthplace: Marshall, Minn.
Age: 77
Education: Lynd (Minn.) Public School; Tracy (Minn.) Area High School; College of St . Thomas, St. Paul, Minn., bachelor’s in social studies with English minor
Family: wife: Millie; children: Jeff, Steve, Jeremy and Bekah; nine grandchildren
Service in the archdiocese: Assisted the pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Hazelwood, 1993-2000
Secular career: Retired from the State of Missouri and the Diocese of Jefferson City
About Deacon Robert DePyper: Deacon DePyper taught high school in Minnesota and Missouri, was in management in the restaurant business and worked for the Missouri Division of Family Services. He was pastoral administrator for three parishes in northeast Missouri and then at St. Michael’s in Russelville, Mo., and he served as deacon at Immaculate Conception Parish in Owensville, Mo., all in the Diocese of Jefferson City.
Deacon Norbert Gawedzinski
Birthplace: St. Louis
Age: 83
Education: St. Liborious School, St. Louis; De Andreis High School, St. Louis; Washington University, St. Louis; University of Alabama.
Family: wife: Barbara; son, Kevin; three grandchildren
Service in the archdiocese: Assisted the pastor at Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Spanish Lake, 1993-95
Assisted the pastor of St. John Parish, Imperial, 1995-2017
Secular career: Retired from Boeing Aircraft as lead engineer.
About Deacon Norbert Gawedzinski: Deacon Gawedzinski served in the U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal from 1958 to 1960, then four years in the Army Reserves. He started bereavement ministries at Our Lady of Loretto and St. John parishes.
Deacon Robert S. Penberthy
Birthplace: St. Louis
Age: 74
Education: High school
Family: wife: Linda; daughter Amy Lynn Williams; three grandchildren
Service in the archdiocese: Assisted the pastor, Most Precious Blood Parish, Mehlville, 1993-96
Assisted the pastor, St. George Parish, Affton, 1996-2017
Secular career: Dental technician, 19 years; maintenance electrician, Marriott Pavilion Hotel, 21 years.
About Deacon Robert S. Penberthy: Deacon Penberthy served in the Civil Air Patrol (U.S. Air Force Auxiliary) for 19 years. His hobbies include flying drones and watch-making and repair.
Deacon Gerard “Jerry” Stoverink
Birthplace: St. Louis
Age: 65
Education: Good Shepherd School, Hillsboro; Hillsboro High School
Family: wife: Diane; daughter: Sherri; four grandchildren
Service in the archdiocese: Assisted the pastor at Sacred Heart Parish, Crystal City, 1993-present
Served on Deacon Council for five years and Deacon Personnel Board for four years
Secular career: Currently director of religious education at Sacred Heart Parish
About Deacon Gerard Stoverink: Deacon Stoverink is on-call chaplain at Mercy Jefferson Hospital, chaplain for the Crystal City Fire Department, spiritual advisor for Sacred Heart Legion of Mary and Sacred Heart St. Vincent de Paul conference and advocate for the archdiocesan Metropolitan Tribunal.
Deacon John S. Stoverink
Birthplace: Fort Knox, Ky.
Age: 61
Education: Master’s degree in business administration and computer resource management
Family: wife: Joanna
Service in the archdiocese: Assisted the pastor at Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis Parish
Secular career: Manager airport information technology security systems and network operations
About Deacon John Stoverink: He is a certified cyber-security professional.