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 grandchildren.
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.