Deacon Stephen Castellano has been a part of  St. John Neumann Parish since he was seven years old, and is one of seven children of Ellen and Anthony (Tony) Castellano. He credits the foundation of his vocation to his parents and an upbringing steeped in the Catholic faith, and was positively impacted by his parish youth group.

During his college years at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Deacon Stephen’s spiritual life deepened, forming a foundation upon which he was able later to hear God calling him to the priesthood. Regular prayer and daily Mass, Bible studies, and making like-minded friends through FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) sharpened his focus.

As a deacon, Stephen resided at the Marian Scholasticate in Washington, D.C., and assisted the Marian priests with their ministries, including Marian Assisted Living, the Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Eucharist, and St. Andrew Kim Parish in Olney, Maryland.

Deacon Stephen will be ordained to the priesthood by the Most Rev. Martin D. Holley on Saturday, May 18 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.  His Mass of Thanksgiving will be on Sunday, May 19 at 11:30 am at St. John Neumann.
 

Meg Miller was born and raised in Saint John Neuman parish and attended Mother of God School. She was born in 1991, was baptized, received her first reconciliation and first communion and was later confirmed in our parish. Her parents, Hall & Laura Miller are long-time members of Mother of God Community, members of the parish for over 40 years, and were married here in 1985.

In 2016 she entered the recently founded Religious community The Handmaid's of the Heart of Jesus in New Ulm, Minnesota as a postulant. She made her temporary vows after three years and is preparing to make her perpetual vows on June 8, 2024, the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

Her Religious name is Sister Teresa Rose of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Teresa is for Mother Teresa and Rose is her "Marian" name. They use the acronym ACJ after their name which stands for Handmaid of the Lord in Latin. In addition to their Mother House in New Ulm, MN the Handmaid's have convents in Duluth, MN, St. Paul, MN & Dickenson, ND. Sister Teresa Rose is currently serving as the local superior at their St. Paul convent. She is also the vocation directress for the Order. Her responsibilities also include campus ministry at the University of Minnesota. She loves doing the relational evangelism of young adults on campus which she learned a decade before as a college campus missionary. 

Sister Teresa Rose comes home for 8 days at Thanksgiving each year. At the end of her last visit she expressed to her parents that she "really loves this life that God has called her to." Monsignor Panke will attend her vows in Minnesota this June.  
 

Danny Morrison grew up in a family with seven children, in the St. John Neumann Parish. He was homeschooled through 12th grade and entered seminary right after high school.

Danny felt an attraction to the priesthood from an early age, and priests have been present in his life.  Seminarians, especially his two older brothers, were particularly inspiring.  They all had a joy about them that touched Danny. He enjoyed visiting his brothers at the seminary, experiencing their daily schedule, and seeing how the whole house of seminarians was striving for holiness.

Danny enjoys the outdoors, like camping, biking, and fishing, as well as sports. His favorite sport is basketball.  He particularly enjoyed playing sports with his brother seminarians and growing deeper in fraternity through sports.

He will be ordained as a transitional deacon on June 8th at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, DC.