Detroit — Six men are preparing to be ordained permanent deacons this fall for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Rosario (Russ) J. Ortisi, Peter Lynch, David Casnovsky, Lawrence Paczkowski, Charles Pace and Tracy Esper are preparing for holy orders, which, if all goes well, they will receive Oct. 21 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The men — each of whom is married and most of whom have children — have been studying at Sacred Heart Major Seminary to ready themselves to serve in parishes across the archdiocese.



Ortisi, 52, of Macomb, is an IT executive for an automotive company in Southfield, and is married to Trisha and has three adult children: Joseph, 26; Michael, 24; and Anthony, 21. He belongs to Guardian Angels Parish in Clawson and has been serving as an intern at St. Anastasia Parish in Troy.




Lynch, 59, of Lapeer, is a human resources executive for the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Inc. He is married to Kathleen and has two adult children: Maureen, 34, and Matthew, 31. He belongs to Immaculate Conception Parish in Lapeer and has been serving as an intern at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Emmett and Sacred Heart Parish in Yale.




Casnovsky, 58, works for the Archdiocese of Detroit as associate director of special services (stewardship). He is married to Patricia and has an adult daughter, Sarah, 23. Casnovsky belongs to St. Isaac Jogues Parish in St. Clair Shores and has been interning at St. Thecla Parish in Clinton Township.




Paczkowski, 56, also works for the Archdiocese of Detroit on the cemetery grounds at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. He is married to Cynthia and belongs to St. Mary Queen of Creation Parish in New Baltimore. Paczkowski has been serving as an intern at Our Lady on the River Parish in Marine City.




Pace, 60, works as a real estate manager in Metro Detroit. He is married to Maria Elena and has one adult son, Edward, 29. Pace belongs to St. Anastasia Parish in Troy and has been serving as an intern at St. Rene Goupil Parish in Sterling Heights.




Esper, 55, owns a graphics and web communication service called Creative Edge. He is married to Crysti and lives in Monroe. Esper belongs to St. John the Baptist Parish in Monroe and has been an intern at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Newport.