A reception was held after the 10 a.m. mass on Sunday, Feb. 19 for Deacon John Abdalla on the occasion of his retirement for the active Diaconate.
Deacon John was ordained in 1973 to the Permanent Diaconate by Archbishop John Whelan of Hartford. He became a Deacon in the Diocese of Norwich in 1974 when he moved to the Somers area.
Some 200 people gathered in All Saints Parish Hall to thank him for his many years of service to the church and to All Saints Parish. His duties here at All Saints have included his being head of the Religious Education Program for several years, baptisms, wakes and helping at weddings. Deacon John also gave homilies on assigned Sundays.
Deacon John and his beloved wife Irene have five daughters - Jacqulyn, Susan, Sharon, Jeannine, and Tammy - 10 grand children, and two great-grand-daughters.
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