Permanent deacons
25TH ANNIVERSARY
Deacon C. Allen Boedeker
Birthplace: St. Louis
Age: 66
Ordination: June 7, 1997, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop Justin Rigali
Education: St. Joan of Arc Grade School, St. Louis Preparatory Seminary South, Cardinal Glennon College, Kenrick Seminary, St. Meinrad School of Theology, Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts (preparing for ordination to the priesthood for the archdiocese in May 2023)
Family: Wife, Mary Ann (deceased); Children, David, Paul, Robert, Carolyn, Jennifer, Jacki, Chassity
Service in the archdiocese: Most Precious Blood, St. Louis, 1997-2001
St. Andrew, Lemay, 2001-20, the last nine years as parish administrator
St. Pius V, St. Louis, 2021-22
Secular Career: Faculty at St. Louis University High School, Director of Religious Education for the Jefferson County Board of Catholic Education in Madison, Indiana
About Deacon Boedeker: Deacon Boedeker has taught RCIA, PSR and VBS, made hospital, nursing home, jail and home visitations, advocated for marriage annulment cases, investigated paranormal activity for the Catholic Renewal Center, served the deaf community when assigned to St. Andrew Parish, and served the poor through parish St. Vincent de Paul Societies. Deacon Boedeker also has served on the committee of the Archdiocesan Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, been a mentor and teacher with the permanent diaconate program, taught at the Paul VI Institute for Catechetical Studies and Notre Dame Elementary School, and served as pastoral musician at Annunziata Parish and pastoral associate and director of religious education at St. Francis de Sales Parish. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Committee for Scouting, the Knights of Columbus and St. Elizabeth Academy school board. Deacon Boedeker is preparing for ordination to the priesthood for the archdiocese in May 2023.
Deacon Richard J. Boland
Birthplace: Port Hudson
Age: 85
Ordination: June 7, 1997, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop Justin Rigali
Education: Holy Family School in Port Hudson, St. Francis Borgia High School, U.S. Air Force
Family: Wife, Doris; Children, Michael, Lori, Kelly, Joseph, Jeanne
Service in the archdiocese: Our Lady of Lourdes, Washington, 1997-present
Secular career: Factory work at Sporlan Valve, then 35 years in the insurance business
Deacon Jerry McGuire
Birthplace: Wichita, Kansas
Age: 91
Ordination: June 7, 1997, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop Justin Rigali
Education: Boulder High School, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Missouri-Columbia
Family: Wife, Mary (deceased); Children, Deborah, Mary, Margaret and Michael
Service in the archdiocese: St. Blaise, Maryland Heights, 1997-99
St. Richard, Creve Coeur, 1999 until retirement in 2010
Secular career: Service in the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Public Health Service Reserve; Civil and environmental engineer
About Deacon McGuire: Deacon McGuire served as an advocate with the archdiocesan tribunal and for several years as a St. Louis Airport chaplain.
Deacon Gary Meyerkord
Birthplace: St. Louis
Age: 72
Ordination: June 7, 1997, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop Justin Rigali
Education: St. Jerome School, Rosary High School, St. Louis Community College
Family: Wife, Linda; two children
Service in the archdiocese: St. Joseph, Cottleville, 1997-2005
All Saints, St. Peters, 2005 until retirement in 2020
Secular career: Training and management development in the grocery industry
About Deacon Meyerkord: Deacon Meyerkord served on the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, the Deacon Council, Deacon Personnel Board and as an advocate on the Metropolitan Marriage Tribunal. He also served as a chaplain at the Missouri Veterans Home in north St. Louis County.
Deacon Leonard Sisul
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Age: 75
Ordination: June 7, 1997, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop Justin Rigali
Education: St. Ann School in Lansing, Illinois; St. Sebastian School in Dellwood, Missouri; St. Vincent’s College High School in Perryville; Corpus Christi High School in Jennings; Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville; Saint Louis University
Family: Wife, Rita; Children, Matthew and Laura
Service in the archdiocese: St. Norbert, Florissant, 1997-2004
Holy Redeemer, Webster Groves, 2004-10
St. Luke, Richmond Heights, 2010-12
St. George/St. John Paul II, Affton, 2012-present
Secular career: Hospital corpsman in the U.S. Coast Guard; medical and surgical assistant; speech/language pathologist; adjunct instructor at Saint Louis University
About Deacon Sisul: Deacon Sisul provided reflections and Benediction for many retreats and days of recollection, served as coordinator of religious education and RCIA, taught adult faith formation and PSR, assisted with young adult ministry at Epiphany Parish, and brought Communion to the homebound. He was a team member on five Holy Redeemer Parish missions to Haiti and served as chaplain for the Knights of Columbus and pastoral care associate at St. Mary’s Hospital. He also helped at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish soup kitchen and was a campus minister for the junior college district.
Deacon Michael Suden
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Age: 80
Ordination: June 7, 1997, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop Justin Rigali
Education: Canfield School, Louis Pasteur Junior High and Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, Santa Monica City College, University of California-Los Angeles, Saint Louis University School of Dentistry, surgical residence through Columbia University
Family: Wife, Mary Elaine; Children, Alison, David and Gregory
Service in the archdiocese: St. Cecilia, St. Louis, 1997-2004
St. Bridget, Kildare, 2004-present
Secular career: Dentist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon
About Deacon Suden: Deacon Suden enjoyed teaching parish faith formation courses, leading Bible studies and visiting nursing homes. He also served in hospital ministry and ministry at veterans’ homes. Drawing on his professional dental expertise, Deacon Suden helped design the Rural Parish Clinic mobile dental clinic.
Deacon James Volansky
Birthplace: St. Louis
Age: 79
Ordination: June 7, 1997, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop Justin Rigali
Education: St. Thomas Aquinas Grade School, St. Mary’s High School, Webster University, archdiocesan director of religious education certification
Family: Wife, Judith; Sons, James, Christopher and Mark
Service in the archdiocese: St. Gabriel the Archangel, St. Louis, 1997-present
Secular career: President of FoodService Center Inc.
About Deacon Volansky: Deacon Volansky led Stations of the Cross, brought Communion to the homebound and led the parish’s RCIA program. He also has served on the parish’s finance and liturgy committees and the parish council.
Deacon Lonnie Weishaar
Birthplace: St. Louis
Age: 76
Ordination: June 7, 1997, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop Justin Rigali
Education: Lindenwood University
Family: Wife, Colette; Sons, Aaron, Todd and Lonnie Jr.
Service in the archdiocese: Immaculate Heart of Mary, New Melle, 1997-2012
St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Charles, 2012-14
Immaculate Conception, Dardenne Prairie, 2014 until retirement in 2021
Secular career: Boeing, Congregation of the Mission
About Deacon Weishaar: Deacon Weishaar assisted with RCIA and served as an advocate for people seeking annulments. He also visited children in Mercy Hospital with his Scottish Terrier, Sadie, a trained therapy dog.
Deacon William (Bill) Weiss
Birthplace: St. Louis
Age: 73
Ordination: June 7, 1997, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop Justin Rigali
Education: St. Stephen Protomartyr School, St. Louis Prep Seminary South, Augustinian Academy, Quincy College (now University), University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri S&T)
Family: Wife, Mary Ellen; Children, Kevin, Jessica and Kathryn
Service in the archdiocese: Mary Queen of Peace, Webster Groves, 1997-99
Little Flower, Richmond Heights, 1999-2010
St. Mary Magdalen, Brentwood, 2010-17
St. Mary Magdalen, St. Louis, 2017-present
Secular career: Sales representative and business owner
About Deacon Weiss: Deacon Weiss worked with many couples in marriage prep and served as an advocate for people seeking annulments. His greatest ministry was serving the elderly clergy residents at St. Agnes Home as a deacon for the private Masses the priest celebrated. He also enjoyed visiting with the homebound, and he served as scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts troop at Mary Queen of Peace Parish. Deacon Weiss and his wife now split their time between St. Louis and Florida, where he has faculties in the Diocese of Palm Beach.
Deacon Albert Williams
Birthplace: St. Louis
Age: 86
Ordination: June 7, 1997, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop Justin Rigali
Education: Cleveland High School, University of Missouri-Rolla, Missouri Air National Guard
Family: Wife, Mickey (deceased); Children, Peggy, Tim, John, Judy, Anne, Connie and Christine
Service in the archdiocese: St. Joseph, Clayton, 1997 until retirement in 2016
Secular career: Engineer/pump system consultant
About Deacon Williams: In addition to parish ministry, Deacon Williams served as part of the speakers’ bureau for Food for the Poor, traveling to churches around the country to speak about the organization and garner support.
40TH ANNIVERSARY
Deacon Frank Nesbitt
Birthplace: Front Royal, Virginia
Age: 81
Ordination: Jan. 23, 1982, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Archbishop John L. May
Education: University of Virginia, Saint Louis University
Family: Wife, Patricia; six children
Service in the archdiocese: St. Norbert, Florissant, 1982-93
Holy Angels, Kinloch, 1993-2002
Corpus Christi, Jennings, 2002-05
Holy Name of Jesus, Bissell Hills, 2005 until retirement in 2010
Secular career: Electrical engineering manager at McDonnell Douglas
About Deacon Nesbitt: Deacon Nesbitt was involved in leading RCIA programs and Bible studies and serving on parish committees. He also visited parishioners who were homebound and in hospitals and nursing homes.
45TH ANNIVERSARY
Deacon Ken Potzman
Birthplace: St. Louis
Age: 80
Ordination: January 29, 1977, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Cardinal John Carberry
Education: Holy Trinity in St. Ann, McBride High School, Washington University
Family: Wife, Barbara; Daughter, Pam
Service in the archdiocese: St. Christopher, Florissant, 1977-2005
St. Cletus, St. Charles, 2005-13
Secular career: Owned a construction business; sold the business to serve as a chaplain and then director of pastoral services at Mercy Hospital
About Deacon Potzman: Deacon Potzman was 35 years old at his ordination — the minimum age for a permanent deacon. He is the last surviving member of the first class of permanent deacons ordained in the archdiocese. Deacon Potzman’s main ministry was through his role in chaplaincy and pastoral service at Mercy Hospital. He also helped start a charismatic prayer group at St. Christopher Parish and was involved with the Catholic Renewal Center.