By Rita McInerney

Joseph C. Anzalone, 45, is a parishioner of St. Philip Benizi in Jonesboro. He is active in the Cursillo Ultreya, Marriage Encounter, The Servants of the Lamb prayer group and religious education. As a deacon he will be assigned to making hospital and nursing home visits and serving on the liturgy and education committee. He and his wife, Judy, who attended classes and earned the advanced catechist's certificate, are the parents of four children ranging in age from 21 to nine. He is a sales representative.

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Matias A. Casal, 47, came to this country from Cuba 22 years ago. He works with Father Jorge Christancho and the Spanish committee at his parish, St. Philip Benizi. He has been visiting the Cuban prisoners held in the federal prison here since 1981. He goes weekly, seeing the men in groups or in their cells. A Eucharistic minister, he also takes Communion to the sick in hospitals. He and his wife, Mirta, have made a Marriage Encounter and are the parents of three children, 19, 22, and 25. He is a high school business teacher.

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For three years Jerry F. Connell made the trip into Atlanta on Saturdays from Monroe where he is a member of St. Anna's parish and president of the credit bureau and an agrifoods, printing and paint company. Connell is looking forward to working "where the pastor needs me." At the parish he is a lector, Eucharistic minister and a past president of the parish council. In the community he is treasurer of the Walton County Ministerial Association. He and his wife Peggy are the parents of four children and "two and a half" grandchildren. Mrs. Connell made the drive with him each week and was among wives receiving the advanced catechist's certificate.

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One of the 13 deacons from Holy Cross parish to be ordained, Frank F. Coughlin, 52, expects to work part-time in the diaconate school. At his parish he is in the folk group choir, is a lector and Eucharistic minister, and is involved in the Cursillo. A sales manager for a national soap corporation, he and his wife, Pat, are the parents of three children, 22, 27, and 28. She received her certificate for attending classes. He is also involved in a project which helps the poor in Jamaica.

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Another Holy Cross parishioner, Enrique L. Galvis, 51, is involved with the Spanish community at the parish, in the prayer group, and the liturgy committee. He visits the prisoners in the federal prison and holds weekly Bible class in a south Atlanta neighborhood where many Mexicans live. He and his wife Cecelia are the parents of two children, 17 and 9. He is a partner in a construction firm.

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A parishioner at St. John Neumann in Lilburn, Evelio Garcia-Carreras, 43, came to this country from Cuba in 1957. His wife, Rosie, is also from Cuba and her brother Xavier Suarez is the first Hispanic Mayor of Miami. Garcia-Carreras was one of the original members of the Spanish Cursillo, helps with the Spanish community at the parish and is a Eucharistic minister. He expects to continue his work with the parish Hispanic community. He is a coordinator of computers used by engineers in drafting. He and his wife have four children, 17, 16, 13, and 7.

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Edmund H. Gravowy, 47, of St. Ann's in Marietta, has been meeting with the divorced, separated and widowed group at the parish, to learn of their situations and offer spiritual guidance. He is involved with the Baptism classes, is a lector, Eucharistic minister and brings Communion to the sick. He hopes to continue working with the divorced, separated and widowed, to coordinate marriage preparation classes and other activities relating to family life. His wife Carole was among the wives receiving certificates. They have two children, 15 and 17. He has his own business after working in corporate management and quality assurance.

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Lou Hettel, 46, a parishioner at Holy Cross, hopes to work with the pre-marriage preparation program. He is a lector, Eucharistic minister, and teaches high school CCD. His wife, Karen, attended the classes with him and received her certificate. They have two children, a son, 17, and daughter, 16. He is an engineer.

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Another candidate traveling a long distance to class, David Higgins, 57, is a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Carrollton. At the parish he is an adult religious education teacher, Eucharistic minister and lector. He and his wife Adora have seven children ranging in age from 29 to 12 and five grandchildren. He is chairperson of the philosophy department at West Georgia College.

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Arturo Jimenez, 55, a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Atlanta, is active as a member of the parish council, in the music ministry, teaches adult education in Spanish, and with his wife, Norka, is a Eucharistic minister. They take Communion to the sick, the shut-in and elderly. He is also involved with the Cursillo. He expects to continue these ministries, to help with baptism and marriage preparation classes and to be assigned at the diocesan level to the Hispanic Apostolate. He was born and raised in Cuba and returned there after graduation from Georgia Tech. He came to the United States in 1962 as a political refugee. He and his wife are the parents of a married son, 25. Their daughter, Norka Marie, was killed eight years ago in a traffic accident. He is a consulting engineer.

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An assignment in the pastoral care ministry at St. Joseph's Hospital is anticipated by William L. Jindrich, 46, of Holy Cross. In the parish he and his wife, Linda, are coordinators for St. Anthony's night shelter. He is coordinator for the prayer chain and a Eucharistic minister. They have one child, 23. Mr. Jindrich is self-employed as an arts and crafts distributor.

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Holy Cross parishioner Michael R. Jones, 57, has taught CCD classes, is past president of the parish council and currently on the board, is active in St. Vincent de Paul and RCIA. He will be assigned to work with RCIA. He is a manufacturing representative for a chemical firm. He and his wife, Ruth, are the parents of six children ranging in age from 33 to 21. They have four grandchildren.

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Walker King, 45, is a member of St. Philip Benizi in Jonesboro and a chaplain at Layton General Hospital where he coordinates visits to the Catholic patients. He is a member of the Charismatic prayer group and the Cursillo Ultreya and has served on the parish council, as a lector and special minister of the Eucharist. He and his wife, Patricia, are the parents of six adopted children, four from one family. They have one grandchild. He is an investigator for the Fulton County District attorney's office.

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It has been a "good three years" for Thomas McGrane, 56, of Holy Cross. He said he was prepared for the course through Bible study, and with Cursillo and the charismatic group. For him, it is an ongoing extension of his commitment to the Church which began as an altar boy living about a block from the parish church in an Iowa city. In the parish he has served as a Eucharistic minister, taking Communion to the sick, has been a lector and cantor, taught grade school CCD, was president of the parish council and chairman of the board of education. He is now taking a course in hospital ministry at St. Joseph's Hospital. He and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, have five children from 28 to 22 and one grandchild. He is self-employed as a sales representative.

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Nick Morning, 41, of St. Ann's in Marietta, is "excited and ready" for his assignment after ordination. At his parish he has been a Eucharistic minister visiting the sick and shut-in and has coordinated this ministry to the sick, taught high school confirmation classes for four years, was chairman of the liturgy committee and active in the RENEW program at the parish. He is hopeful his assignment will focus on teaching adult education, the liturgy committee, and continuing his involvement in coordinating the Eucharistic ministers to the sick. His wife Karen attended classes and has her master catechist certificate. They have three sons, 18, 17, and 12. He coordinates customer service training for a large computer corporation.

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Sam Mure, 61, has expressed an interest in the Stephens Ministry as a possible involvement at his parish, Holy Cross. A member of the parish for 18 years, he is or has been active with the Ultreya, the prayer group, building committee, the Men's Club, RCIA and as a lector, Eucharistic minister and a visitor to the sick of the parish. He is also a parish volunteer at St. Anthony's night shelter. He and his wife Jean are the parents of three daughters and have two grandchildren. He is a credit manager for a national food corporation.

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Jose A. Narvaez, 47, a parishioner at Holy Cross, transferred to the diaconate training program here after beginning his training in Chicago. A native of Puerto Rico who came to this country 29 years ago, he hopes to continue working with the Spanish community in evangelization and as a Eucharistic minister and lector. He approaches his work as a deacon aware that there will be ups and downs "when you are working for the kingdom of God." His wife Adelfina also participated in the classes in Chicago. They have two children, ages 24 and 21 and two grandsons. He is a production technician.

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Cece Reimer, 70, has taught adult religious education for more than 12 years at his parish, Holy Cross. He also serves as minister to the sick and takes Communion to the homebound. He is a past president of the parish council, sings in the adult folk group and is involved in Cursillo. He and his wife Phyliss have two children, 25 and 23. He is a sales representative for a wood products company.

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Whitney F. Robichaux, 46, of Holy Cross, expects to serve in the high school ministry after ordination. He works with the altar servers and assists with social activities for sixth and seventh grade students, and is a Eucharistic minister and lector. He has served on the finance committee, taught seventh graders in the school of religion for about five years, coached soccer teams, was a leader of scouts, and a member of the men's club. He and his wife jean have three children, 13,14, and 22. He is a systems manager.

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Fred J. Sambrone, Jr., 45, of Fairburn is a member of St. Anthony's parish in Atlanta's West End. He is a past president of the parish council, a Eucharistic minister, teaches CCD and is in charge of the infant baptism program. With his wife Connie, he is involved with the sponsor couple program and is a member of the Wife and Husband Team Club. Mrs. Sambrone was among the wives receiving certificates. They are the parents of three daughters, 24, 23, and 22 and have two grandchildren. He is a dentist.

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Richard Suever, 57, a member at Holy Cross, has been involved at the archdiocesan level in the Pre-Cana instruction for engaged couples and hopes to continue in this ministry after ordination. He is also interested in the Stephens Ministry work in the parish. He has been active in adult education and as a financial consultant to parishioners. He is a lector, a Eucharistic minister and takes Communion to shut-ins. He and his wife Ann, who received her certificate are the parents of eight living children ranging in age from 20 to 33, and have nine grandchildren. He is a senior vice president for a city bank.

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John Stroop, 52, is among the deacons from Holy Cross training to work in hospital ministry. He is involved in the parish RENEW, is a Eucharistic minister and a lector. Outside the parish, he is involved with Habitat for Humanity. His wife Carol said she is glad she attended classes this year with her husband. "It gave me a better feeling for what he is doing." They are the parents of three children, 27, 26, and 2. He is in computer sales.

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William Timme, 58, started training last fall in the pastoral care department at St. Joseph's Hospital. At his parish, Holy Cross, he is involved in "all kinds of things," including taking Communion to the sick. He is interested in making a commitment to the Stephens Ministry as a deacon. He and his wife, Mary Ellen, have six children, 21 to 36, and four granddaughters. He is self-employed as a consultant. Mrs. Timme pursued studies for a master's degree in social work and is now involved in ministry to the elderly in the hospital and nursing home. "We're hoping our ministry will be together," she said.

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A member of St. Philip Benizi in Jonesboro, Richard Tolcher, 44, would like to work in religious education, in adult formation and RCIA. He is involved with RCIA, including the class for teenagers, the baptism class and takes the Eucharist to parishioners in the hospital. He has served on the parish council. He and his wife Martha are parents of five children from five to 16. He works for the Ga. Department of Regulatory Services.

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Gary Womack, 47, of St. John Neumann parish in Lilburn, said his introduction to the Cursillo movement 11 years ago and to the community at Holy Cross changed his life. He has been a lector for more than 10 years, a Eucharistic minister for three years, teaches adult education and is active with the Rainbows program for children. He conducts a Communion service at the meetings of his parish Ultreya. He will be teaching religious education to fourth graders and with another new deacon, Evelio Garcia-Carreras, will be looking into the possibility of starting a marriage preparation program in the parish. He and his wife, Sharon, who received her certificate, have four children from 16 to 22. He is a systems consultant, financial, for a software company.

Bobbie Friel assisted in collecting information for this article.