GREENSBORO — Deacon Richard Pinto has received faculties from Bishop Peter Jugis and been assigned as a permanent deacon to St. Pius X Parish, effective July 21.
Deacon Pinto and his wife Helen Ann moved from Morristown, N.J., to be closer to family after retiring from a floor covering business in Rockaway, N.J.
Deacon Pinto came in to the church at 19, while he was serving in the military at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He became involved in Church life, especially with visiting residents in nursing facilities and the homebound. He was also RCIA coordinator for 15 years. In 2001, he was ordained the diaconate for the Diocese of Paterson, N.J., by Bishop Frank J. Rodimer.
After ordination he served at the Church of the Assumption in Morristown, St. Virgil in Morris Plains, N.J., and a Carmelite Monastery in Morristown. He and his wife mentored diaconate classes for 10 years, and Deacon Pinto was director of formation for the Paterson diocese’s Diaconate Class of 2015. He also served in the ministry of the Word and Liturgy and was chaplain at Morris Hills Nursing Center.
“Being a deacon is a special grace and I enjoy all the aspects of this ministry, especially when I see the smiles and the unconditional love of parents at the baptism of their children,” Deacon Pinto says. “I feel privileged to be able to bring Eucharist to the elderly, sick and homebound and to spend time listening to them and sharing our faith.”
For the Diocese of Charlotte, Deacon Pinto said he is looking forward to working with the pastor and deacons and serving the parishioners at St. Pius X and the Greensboro community.
— Deacon John Martino
JEFFERSON — Knights of Columbus Council 16839 recently presented its $1,000 Knights of Columbus Memorial Scholarship to Cecilia Oviedo Barcenas from St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Pictured with her are Knights Butch Rodgers and Rick LaBonte.
The scholarship was originally established by the St. Francis Men’s Club, but the club was disbanded and integrated into the Knights of Columbus Council.
— Patrick Hession, correspondent