Archdiocese of New Orleans will have 7 new Permanent Deacons

 

Seven to be ordained as permanent deacons June 14

Archbishop Gregory Aymond will ordain seven men to the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of New Orleans at a Mass of Ordination June 14 at 10 a.m. at St. Louis Cathedral.

After the permanent diaconate was reinstated by the Second Vatican Council more than 50 years ago, the first class of permanent deacons in the Archdiocese of New Orleans was ordained by Archbishop Philip Hannan in 1974. 

Currently, there are 202 permanent deacons serving in the archdiocese, with diaconate classes in formation for 2027 and 2029, said Deacon Ray Duplechain, director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate.

Craig Comeaux

Comeaux, a native of Thibodaux, Louisiana, has been married to his wife Marie for 25 years. They have two children – Brooklyn and Dakota – and live in Kenner. They are members of St. Jerome Parish, where Comeaux serves as an acolyte. He graduated from Nicholls State University with a degree in mathematics and earned a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Northwestern University.

Comeaux believes the Word of God is the greatest tool for evangelization, bringing truth and light to the world. His favorite Bible verse is John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” reminding us that God is always present and guiding us.

David Kalil

Kalil, who resides in Gretna, has been married to his wife Susan for 43 years. They have three daughters – Kellin (Jeff), Kayley (Anthony) and Kyle (Caleb) – and 11 grandchildren. The Kalils are parishioners of St. Joseph Church and Shrine in Gretna, where Kalil serves as acolyte. Kalil has practiced as a nurse anesthetist for 28 years. He received a doctorate in nurse anesthesia practice and instructed nurse anesthesia students at the LSU Health Science Center for 15 years until 2023. 

Kalil is grateful for the opportunity given him to be formed, and he eagerly awaits his assignment to serve as a permanent deacon. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matt 5:7).

Jermaine Labat

Labat, a native of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is married to his wife Nichole. They have four children – Ashton, Paige, Alexandra and Ava. They are parishioners of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Lacombe, where Labat serves as acolyte and his wife serves as director of religious education. Labat is a graduate of Mississippi Valley State University and is employed by Nunez Community College.

Labat’s favorite Bible verse comes from Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; on your own intelligence do not rely.” 

Stephen Maheu

Maheu is a native of New Orleans and grew up in Arabi. He has been married to Julie Juneau Maheu for 43 years. They have two children – Sarah (Ryan) and Cameron Maheu – and three grandchildren – Lucy, Emma and Mary. Maheu attended Holy Cross High School, the University of New Orleans and the Charity Hospital Pre-Hospital Paramedic Program focused on advanced cardiac life support. Maheu has been employed in the medical device industry specializing in cardiac surgery technologies for the past 40 years. 

He has been a member of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Metairie for over 20 years, where he is currently assigned as an acolyte, and has participated in several ministries within the parish. 

“I have always been drawn to helping people in great need, from my earliest days as a paramedic and now in the cardiac surgery space, often engaging with those in their time of need,” Maheu said. “I hope to serve without attention as often as possible, for there is no greater reward in not being seen by others, but knowing that our heavenly Father sees. I am driven greatly by St. Matthew’s Gospel, in particular, Matthew 6:6. I believe that this is at the heart of my calling to the permanent diaconate in quietly serving others in need. I will spend and offer to God the remaining years of my life, after having by the grace of God, an amazingly blessed life.”

Scott Reason

Reason, a native of New Orleans, has been married to his wife Barbara Cina Reason for 31 years. They have one child – Sarah Therese Reason. A graduate of Archbishop Shaw High School, the University of New Orleans, and the University of Holy Cross, Reason has worked as a Licensed Professional Counselor in a private practice setting for the last 21 years and as a school counselor at Mount Carmel Academy for the last 24 years. 

The Reasons live in Gretna and are parishioners of St. Martha Parish and Infant Jesus of Prague Mission. One of Reason’s favorite quotes is: “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom 12:2).

Barry Rodriguez 

Rodriguez, a native of New Orleans, has been married to his wife Deidre Pruett for 42 years. They have four children raised in St. Dominic Parish – Alexandra, Christian, Candace and Grant. Their children have blessed them with eight grandchildren.  

After graduating from Brother Martin High School, Rodriguez graduated from the University of New Orleans with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is the director of sales and marketing at the Hotel Monteleone. He is inspired by Jesus’ washing of the feet of his disciples in John 13:15: “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

Eddie Rudiger 

Rudiger, a native of New Orleans, grew up in St. Christopher the Martyr Parish in Metairie. He and his wife Laura have been married for 34 years and have three adult sons and one daughter-in-law. The Rudiger's are parishioners of St. Peter Church in Covington, where Rudiger currently serves as an acolyte.  Rudiger graduated from Archbishop Rummel High School and then attended the University of New Orleans, earning a B.A. and an M.Ed., both in education. He received a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans and has practiced law for 22 years. Rudiger said he hopes to serve as a deacon and “do all things in Christ who strengthens me.”