Bishop Alfred Schlert will ordain six seminarians to the Transitional Diaconate on Saturday, May 17 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.
The Diocese has not seen a class of six men being ordained to the Transitional Diaconate since 1981. God willing, these six will be ordained priests in June 2026.
The “transitional” in Transitional Deacon refers to the fact that, unlike Permanent Deacons, who serve in parishes across the Diocese, they typically will spend only one year in the assignment as they prepare pastorally and spiritually for the Priesthood.
The Ordination will be livestreamed on the Diocese news website, AD Today, and on the Diocese’s YouTube and Facebook channels. The men to be ordained Transitional Deacons are:
Dominic Civitella
Dominic Civitella of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton grew up in Easton and attended St. Jane School, Easton and Notre Dame High School, Easton. He is the youngest of three children, and his parents are Michael and Allison Civitella. Prior to entering the Seminary, he attended Slippery Rock University and earned a Bachelor's degree in English writing.
While in Seminary, he began a seminary magazine titled “Marian Beam” with other seminarians, which features “articles, poems, essays, and art on Our Lady, to cultivate Marian devotion.” His hobbies include ice hockey, writing, and reading.
Motto for Diaconate: “He must increase, I must decrease” and “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is close at hand” after the patron he chose for this year, St. John the Baptist.
Tyler Davis
Tyler Davis of Assumption BVM, Bethlehem grew up in Coopersburg. He is the son of Todd and Michelle Davis and brother of Zachary Davis. While studying marketing and philosophy at DeSales University, Center Valley, he converted to Catholicism. After graduating from DeSales in 2017, he worked as a sales and marketing representative at both a family-owned biotech company called Lampire Biological Laboratories, and a startup meal delivery company.
Though he does not feel he has a specific motto for the year, he said this year of the diaconate flows from the “response of love I have received from God, my family, and this Diocese. May this ministry be one of thankfulness.”
At the Seminary, he enjoys organizing dinners, hikes, and presentations for the Seminary JPII Club. He loves the outdoors, and he bow hunts, fishes, hikes, and plays lacrosse when he can. He also joined a CrossFit community and reads for leisure.
Tyler Loch
Tyler Loch of Holy Trinity grew up in Ironton and is one of three children. His parents are Daniel and Maria Loch. After graduating from Parkland High School in 2018, he entered Seminary. “I had thought about going to college for my undergrad, but I was pretty sure that God was calling me to the Priesthood, so I decided the Seminary was the best choice for me,” he said.
Loch enjoys learning languages, weightlifting, and sports, and one of his favorite things is taking Communion to the sick and homebound.
“I hope to be a courageous witness to Christ as a deacon, trusting in His goodness, His strength, and His love for me and the whole world,” he said.
A Scripture that he carries with him from his canonical retreat is “…[but] I am not ashamed, for I know Him in whom I have believed and am confident that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day” (2 Tim 1:12).
Anh Do Mai
Anh Do Mai was born and lived in Vietnam until his family moved to Reading in 2006, when he was 8 years old. Now, he is excited to be close to serving the Diocese of Allentown as a priest. He believes that God is slowly revealing Himself more deeply as he enters this diaconate year and feels strongly about “fostering a greater understanding of God’s divine mercy for His flock.”
He entered the seminary after studying chemistry at Temple University, Philadelphia for three years. He has always enjoyed art, backpacking, and soccer, but his brother seminarians have instilled an even greater love for the outdoors and camping.
His father is Dieu Mai, and his mother is Nhung Pham. His brother, Anh Duc Mai, shares a similar name. His family attends St. Paul, Reading.
Hy James Gia Ngô
Hy James Gia Ngô grew up in Bien Hoa City, south of Vietnam. His home parishes in West Reading and Vietnam are both called “Sacred Heart.”
He is one of four children, and the son of Mrs. Oanh T. Tran and the late Mr. Ngo Dinh Bo, who passed away in 2020. He went to Nguyen Trai High school and then studied architecture at Ho Chi Minh University of Architecture. He worked as an architect for over a year before entering seminary.
Ngô’s hobbies include watercolor and pencil painting, cooking, and trying foods from different cultures.
Motto for Diaconate: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you” (John 15:16).
Jeffrey Tomczyk
Jeffrey Tomczyk of St. Catharine of Siena, Reading was raised in Youngstown, Ohio, before his family moved to Reading in 1999. He is the oldest of two children, and his parents are Todd and Rebecca Tomczyk.
He graduated from Lock Haven University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education. He was stationed at DeSales University, Center Valley while he worked for AmeriCorps for one year. From 2014 to 2016, Tomczyk taught in Florida and eventually moved home to teach in his home parish, St. Catharine of Siena, Reading, from 2018 to 2022, while he discerned the priesthood.
Tomczyk’s favorite hobbies include gardening, camping, hiking, and reading.
Motto for Diaconate: “Fiat voluntas tua” (“Thy will be done”).
“Thank you very much for the prayers and acts of kindness throughout my time in and out of seminary,” he said. “I have truly felt the goodness of the people of God over these many years.”
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