By Thea Jarvis

The Archdiocese of Atlanta gains five new deacons this spring as seminarians studying in Ohio, Florida and Rome, Italy take a decisive step towards final ordination to the priesthood.

Rev. Mr. James Schillinger, who has spent the last three years in Rome, Italy, was ordained to the diaconate in St. Peter’s Basilica April 14. This summer, he will be part of the parish staff at St. John Vianney Church in Lithia Springs until he returns to Rome in October.

Schillinger, 24, was born in Philadelphia and there attended Roman Catholic High School and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He pursued theological studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio for three years before beginning his work in Rome.

Rev. Mr. James Murray and Rev. Mr. Albert Jowdy finish their third year of study at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida this spring. On May 7, Auxiliary Bishop J. Keith Symons of St. Petersburg ordained both men to the diaconate.

James Murray, 25, is a Detroit, Michigan native who moved to Atlanta at an early age. He attended North Fulton and St. Pius X high schools and spent one year at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore before he went on to the Josephinum, where he completed his college studies. He will be assigned to St. Joseph’s Church in Athens through the fall.

Albert Jowdy, 26, was born in New Bern, North Carolina and received his secondary schooling at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia. He graduated from the University of North Carolina with a B.S. in philosophy before entering St. Vincent de Paul. He will spend the summer and early fall at St. John the Evangelist Church in Hapeville.

On May 27, Archbishop Thomas Donnellan will ordain Kevin Guidry and Michael Panter to the diaconate at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta. Both men complete their fourth and final year of study at the Pontifical College Josephinum this spring and receive Master of Divinity degrees upon graduation. The assignments to parish work will run through next June.

Kevin Guidry, 26, is a Louisiana native who studied at the St. John Vianney preparatory Seminary in New Orleans and St. Joseph Catholic Preparatory Seminary in Baton Rouge. He later graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S. in electrical engineering and from Georgia Tech with an M.S. in electrical engineering. Guidry has been assigned to St. Jude’s Church in Atlanta.

Michael Panter, 24, was born in Athens, Georgia and attended Georgia Military College High School in Milledgeville. He graduated from Georgia College in Milledgeville with a B.S. in biology before going on to the Josephinum in Ohio. Panter will take up his parish work at Sacred Heart Church in Atlanta this June.