Deacon William T. Wanca, Sr.
Deacon William T. Wanca, Sr., is originally from Newark, NJ. He attended the University of Nebraska for a short time until he was shipped over to Southeast Asia in 1969. He medically retired from the U.S. Air Force when he was diagnosed with Cancer in 1984. He has been married to his wife Rhonda for 45 years. They have two children and four grand children.
Bill and Rhonda are charter members of our Lady of Grace since 1989. During this time they have done many things at the parish. Over the years Bill has been a Receptionist, Bulletin Editor, Office Manager, Member of the building committees, Minister of Hospitality, Lector (Reader), Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Minister of the Sick, and Hospice Minister.
He was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Orlando by Bishop Norbert Dorsey on June 6, 1998. He coordinates and schedules the deacons of the parish. He is a catechist for the Catechumenate process (RCIA), Faith Formation, First Communion, Confirmation, Baptism, First responder for funerals, Hospice trained volunteer, and visits Hospitals. As needed and when requested by the pastor, he presides at Baptisms, Funerals, Weddings and para liturgies. He also presides at the Liturgy of the Word/Communion services as needed.
Deacon Bill helps prepares couples requesting marriage in the church, prepares the Prayers of the Faithful and Penitential Rite for Masses & maintains, order/pickup of supplies for Masses.
He was appointed Director of Port Chaplains for the Apostleship of the Sea, Stella Maris Center, at Port Canaveral by Bishop Norbert Dorsey from May 2000 serving there until September 2014, at which time the ministry closed its doors.
Deacon Jack Rhine
Deacon Jack Rhine is married to Karen Rhine, has one daughter and three grandchildren. He was ordained on June 1, 2002. He has a B.A. (History & Geography) from San Francisco State University, M.A. (Education) from San Francisco State University, Advanced Study Education from the University of California, Berkeley and holds the California Teaching Credential K-8.
As part of his work experience he has been Adjunct professor of Information Science, Computer Lab Administrator, San Francisco State University, Instructor, Course Developer, Program/Project/Product Manager, Engineering Manager, Digital Equipment Corporation. He has also been Instructor, non-credit computer courses at Brevard Community College and also a Sole Proprietor in a Computer Sales and Service business.
His interests are Reading, Social Justice, Technology, Music, Travel & Cooking. In the parish Jack assists and preaches at Holy Mass, performs Liturgies of the Word with Communion, Benediction, Wake and funeral services & Weddings outside of Holy Mass. He also facilitates RCIA Sessions, Adult Catechesis, Presentations, Baptism classes and Mornings of Reflection as requested.
He also serves in the following roles:
- Spiritual Advisor to Our Lady of Grace, St. Vincent de Paul Conference
- Diocesan Representative to East Coast Human Trafficking Task Force
- Member of the Faith Alliance Sub-Committee
- Spiritual Assistant and Formation Director, Mary, Queen of the Servants Community,
- Secular Order Servants of Mary National Council, Secular Order Servants of Mary for which his term expires 2015
- Executive Council, Union of the Family of the Servants of Mary (friars, sisters, seculars) for which his term expires 2016.
Deacon Kevin Crawford
Deacon Kevin Crawford is originally from New York City and attended St. John’s University where he studied psychology. He has degrees in psychology from Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost and Social Work from Stony Brook University. He has been married to his wife Tracy for 23 years. They moved to Florida in 1994, and have four children. He has spent most of his career working with young people and their families in runaway shelters, residential treatment and for the past 12 years in schools. He enjoys reading and music. After being active in parish ministry for several years he discerned a call to the diaconate and was ordained as a Permanent Deacon on June 13, 2009.
Deacon Albert Gutierrez
Deacon Albert was born in Havana Cuba, he came to the USA in 1966, and lived in New Jersey where he met his high school sweetheart, Maritza. They got married on August 21st, 1971, and together they have 1 daughter Amy and 2 grandchildren, Josh and McKenzie. He attended Miami Dade Community College and started the seminary in Boynton Beach in the year 2000. In June 2005, he was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Miami and was assigned by Archbishop John C. Favalora to Saint Kevin’s Catholic church where he & his family had been members since 1975. They relocated to Palm Bay, FL in 2007. He transferred to the Diocese of Orlando and was assigned by Bishop Thomas Gerard Wenski to Our Lady of Grace where he continues to serve primarily to the Spanish community.
- Ministries: Catechist for Faith Formation, First Communion & Confirmation
- Baptisms, Funerals, & Wedding preparations
- Hospital visits, Quinceaneras
- Spiritual advisor for 3rd degree Knights of Columbus and Bereavement ministry
- Attended a Cursillo in 2017.
- Also presides at Liturgy of the Word and communion services as needed.
Deacon Albert enjoys biking, fishing, reading and breaking bread with families and friends.
Tom Flavell
Tom Flavell is originally from Hollywood, FL, but grew up in Findlay, OH. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a major in Business Management. He received a Masters degree in Theology from Saint Leo University through the diaconate formation program. He was ordained a deacon on June 6, 2015. He married Tracy in 1978, and together they have three grown children and five grandchildren. He has been employed by the same company for his entire career and currently holds the position of Operations Planning Manager.
Tom converted to Catholicism at the Easter Vigil in 1980. He married into a Catholic family and converted because he witnessed the love Tracy’s family had for each other and they desired to raise their children in one faith.
Tom’s hobbies outside of work and church include golf, bowling, woodworking, and cooking.
His current outside of the wall ministry is prison ministry. Visiting the prison to bring communion to the incarcerated is extremely rewarding and appreciated. These men strive for outside contact and to have Jesus brought to them. He has also been on several teams for the Kairos retreats.
Tom has interest in the following ministries inside the walls of the parish. RCIA, Knights of Columbus, Ministers of Hospitality, Ministry to the Sick, and participating with the liturgy committee. He has also just recently started being a part of the Youth Ministry team on Sunday nights.
Tom first became interested in the diaconate in the late 1980’s, but due to job transfers to Florida and Pennsylvania, this calling had to be put on hold. While he thought God was telling him no in the late 80’s, he has come to realize He was not telling him no, just not now. Tracy and Tom have met many other wonderful couples in their class that will be friends for life. They are continuing to enjoy their ministries as an ordained couple and serving their brothers and sisters of God.
Jose Agapito Lopez
Deacon Jose was born in Orocovis, Puerto Rico and moved to Lancaster, PA at the age of 9. He grew up with 14 brothers and sisters. He graduated from high school in 1980 in Lancaster and went directly into the work force. Jose was a certified welder for over 20 years and then switched careers and became a CDL truck driver.
On January 14, 1989, he married his wife Carmen in Lancaster. They have three children who are all happily married. Two sons and one daughter and they are the proud grandparents of four.
Jose was very active in his parish in Lancaster, PA in a variety of ways such as teaching Faith Formation, driving buses, leading pray groups and retreats, and working on the summer festival. He was also active as an Extraordinary Ministry of Holy Communion and Ministry to the Sick.
On May 22, 2010 he was ordained a Permanent Deacon by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades for the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA.
In his personal time he enjoys running and spending time at the beach with his family. Family is very important to him and his wife. He also is a big Philadelphia sports fan!!
He loves to serve the Lord and his Church and to spread his great love to others.
Jose came to Palm Bay in 2021 and joined our parish. He became an active deacon with the Diocese of Orlando in December 2022.
