A few days ago, Deacon Greg Kandra posted on the death of Deacon Paul McArdle of the Brownsville, Texas diocese. Deacon Paul died last week, and was described as the first permanent deacon ordained in the United States.
This morning I noticed that Deacon Greg posted again on the topic. The very first permanent deacon ordained in the United States is said now to be Deacon Michael Cole of the diocese of Rochester, New York. He was an Episcopalian priest but received into full communion with the Church by Bishop Fulton Sheen, who ordained him a deacon in 1969. Unfortunately, Deacon Cole left the Church and began ministry again as an Episcopal priest in Canada.
Read Deacon Kandra’s post at:The Deacon’s Bench
