Deacons ordained in De Pere, Wrightstown News-Chronicle Four men were ordained as deacons Saturday by Bishop Robert Banks at a mass at St. Francis Xavier Cathrdral. A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church who can baptize, lead prayers, witness marriages and conduct wake and funeral services. Michael Vander Bloomen was ordained as deacon of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in De Pere after joining the parish staff in 2001 as a pastoral associate. He and his wife, Mary Jo, have four children. Vander Bloomen worked as a land surveyor for 20 years. Vander Bloomen greets new parishoners, visits the sick, assists families coping with death and coordinates initiation rites. Kenneth Kabat of St. Paul Parish in Wrightstown will serve as St. Paul's first deacon. He hand his wife, Betty, have been members of the church for 30 years. Kabat has been involved in the church's men's choir, religious education, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, and FOCCUS, a marriage preparation tool. Bernard "Pat" Knier was ordained as deacon for SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Kiel. Thomas Koch was ordained for St. Mary Parish of Clarks Mills.