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Peekskill's Assumption Celebrates New Deacon

The Church of the Assumption recently welcomed a new deacon to its ranks, but the man being honored was a very familiar face. Parishioner Carlos Campoverde of Peekskill was ordained Saturday as a deacon after several years of service with the church.

Born in Equador, Campoverde came to this country 12 years ago and began serving as the coordinator of Spanish ministries for the church. Pastor John Higgins said that Campoverde has become a great asset to the church community.

“He brings with his gift of creativity, and everybody recognizes him as a great leader with an ability to draw people together and help them work together for the service of the gospel,” Higgins said. “He’s a great disciple of Jesus Christ. He has great love for the lord.”

Higgins credits Campoverde with helping to nurture the church’s Hispanic congregation. “Our Spanish community has grown from about 120 people at one mass to 1200 people in two masses, and it’s really thanks to him and his great leadership,” Higgins said. Campoverde, who speaks little English, went to St. Patricks Cathedral Saturday to be ordained by Archbishop Timothy Dolan after five years of study. The Catholic Church has three levels of hierarchy:  bishops, priests and deacons, with deacon being the first rank a pastor achieves. The church held a solemn Mass of Thanksgiving Sunday followed by a massive party in the church’s downstairs community center. Parishioners gave the new deacon a number of gifts, such as ceremonial clothing, and enjoyed a festive meal.

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