Trinidadian Christopher Barber, 40, from St Clare, Rosedale, was among 20 men ordained May 23 to the permanent diaconate by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio at St James Cathedral-Basilica, downtown Brooklyn.

He has been married to his wife Joyce for the past 16 years and they have three children. A computer technician, he is active in his parish as a lector and Eucharistic minister.

A Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated May 24 at St Clare’s Church, and another Mass will be celebrated May 31 at Our Lady of Victory.

Among the other ordained Caribbean-born deacons were Balfour Thompson, 51, originally from Jamaica; Israel Rosario, 70, Dominican Republic; and Haitians Jean Rameau, 54 and Robinson Despeignes.

The new deacons bring the number of active permanent deacons in the Diocese of Brooklyn to 185.

(edited from the New York diocesan weekly The Tablet)