Three men will be ordained permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 9, in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul during a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez.
The ordination Mass will be livestreamed on Archbishop Pérez’s Facebook page and the archdiocesan Vimeo channel.
Permanent deacons serve as ordained clergy in the Roman Catholic Church. They may be single or married men. As ministers at the altar, deacons assist the priest and bishop at the liturgy. They proclaim God’s word, preach and teach, baptize, witness marriages, carry out funeral rites at the vigil and at the grave, administer Holy Communion to the sick and dying, and perform a wide variety of pastoral and charitable works as part of their vocation.
Learn more about the permanent diaconate program in the archdiocese through the School of Diaconal Formation at the seminary.
The men being ordained are listed below in alphabetical order:
Kevin J. Kelly is a member of St. Bernadette Parish in Drexel Hill. He serves as executive director of operations and finance at the National Catholic Bioethics Center. He is the father of James Kelly, who will marry Kelsey Brown on July 11, 2026. His wife, Patty, died in 2005. Kelly graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He also holds a Master of Arts in classical studies from Villanova University, a Master of Science in educational administration from St. Joseph’s University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Immaculata University.
John A. Milius and his wife, Donna, are members of Annunciation B.V.M. Parish in Havertown. They are the parents of Francesca and Jack. Milius is vice president of engineering and a structural engineer and project manager at AECOM. He graduated from Seneca Valley High School in Harmony, Pa., and earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Bucknell University. He also holds a Master of Engineering from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration from Villanova University.
Shawn P. Terkhorn and his wife, Carol, are members of Corpus Christi Parish in Lansdale. They are the parents of Julia, Bridget, Lily and Aoife. Terkhorn earned a Bachelor of Science in biotechnology from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He received a doctorate in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine from Thomas Jefferson University.
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