Deacon Dale T. Nees
(English)
Director
414-758-2212
neesd@archmil.org
I am Deacon Dale Nees. I was born in 1957 and grew up right here in the Milwaukee Archdiocese in the town of Sturtevant with my mother, father, brother, and sister, along with scads of aunts, uncles and cousins close by. I happen to be the youngest in my family and came by my work ethic through my father who was a cement contractor. I have a creative side as well and initially aspired to be an artist. While I still love the arts, I was more fulfilled caring for others and became a Registered Nurse. I met my wife Barb while a student nurse and we married upon graduation at my home parish St. Sebastian’s (Sturtevant). We raised 3 boys (Joshua, Jason and Peter) and 1 girl (Aharon) then started all over with another boy (Adam) who will soon be twelve. I have been enriched by thirty-five amazing years ministering in healthcare assuming increasing leadership responsibilities.
I was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in 2009 and I has been ministering in the church as a deacon for the last nine years. When I look back I saw God’s providence in the whole admissions experience and discernment process. I am reminded daily, by our class ordination photograph which hangs in our living room, of the blessing that those men and their wives have been for Barb and me in our lives in general and specifically in diaconal ministry. Some of the ministry that I am involve in are Truck Stop as a Chaplain; Native Ministry among the Ihanktonwan (Yankton) Sioux; formation teacher, prayer and worship and many more.
The thing I like most about being a deacon is assisting people to see and share their giftedness recognizing how intentionally living out the grace of their baptisms as disciples of Jesus is a blessing in and outside the parish.
Dcn. Manuel Maldonado-Villalobos
(English or Español)
Associate Director Diaconate Formation
414-758-2207
maldonadom@archmil.org
I was born in Puerto Rico in 1970. I have involved in catechesis, youth groups and adult formation for almost 30 years. I have a Bachelor Degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico and a Master Degree in Theology from the Dominican College of Theology in the Central University of Bayamon, Puerto Rico. I was a teacher in Catholic School in the area of Religion Education.
I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2000 to develop formation and ministries programs for the Latino Community in the area of catechesis, lay ministry formation and liturgy. With this back ground and studies, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee granted me the Advance certification in Religious Education.
Part of my work in the Archdiocese was the translation and adaptation of the Religious education Curriculums, developing a Spanish Catechist Formation (trainings) Programs for the growing Latino Community. I have been a teacher for the Diaconate and Lay Ministry Formation Program at Saint Francis Seminary in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. I was assigned as Associate Director for the Office of Child Ministry and Sacramental Preparation for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and in 2006 I was appointed as an Associate Director for the Office for Diaconate Formation in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. My experiences in the multicultural environment and my knowledge of the Popular Religiosity bring an awareness of a Multicultural Church and the unity in the diversity. I helped to develop the Diaconate Formation Curriculum for our Archdiocese, when we received the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of the Permanent Deacon in the United State, promulgated in 2005. I has been a speaker, retreat leader, mentor and more. Part of my ministry and involvement in the Archdiocese is also been a Safe Envioroment Facilitator for at least 22 years. I belong to St. John Paul II Parish in Milwaukee where I minister for more than 15 years and now I assit as a Deacon, serving the community at large.
Maria (Maritza) Espino
(English or Español)
Associate Director Pastoral Formation
414-758-2205
espinom@archmil.org
I am excited to be part of the staff of the Diaconate Formation Program here at the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. I have been working in Ecclesial Ministry for more than 19 years. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Park-Side with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and minor in Communications. I am also a graduate from a four-year Lay Ministry Certificate Division Program at St. Francis De Sales Seminary. I graduated in 2006 with a Certification in Religious Education. A year after, I decided to pursue a Masters in Lay Ministry from Cardinal Stritch University. For the past two years I served as Associate Director of Catechesis and Faith Formation for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. In my years in parish ministry, I served as Director of Religious Education, Director of Adult Faith Formation, and as a Pastoral Associate at St. Willebrord Parish in Green Bay, and St. John Paul II Parish here in Milwaukee. I am married and a mother of two; a teenager and a young adult. I am honored to serve as the Associate Director of Pastoral Formation for our future Deacons!
Jennifer Michaels
Administrative Assistant
414-758-2202
michaelsj@archmil.org
I am honored to be part of the Office of Diaconate Formation team. Before working for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, I acted as an Assistant Store Manager for Follett Higher Education Group at the UW Collaborative Online Bookstore. Before that, I worked for many years at Barnes & Noble Booksellers. I earned my B.S. degree in Psychology from Carroll College (now Carroll University) and consider myself a life-long learner and student. I am passionate about my Catholic faith and volunteer as a catechist in the Catholic Community of Waukesha RCIA program. I also enjoy spending time with my family and reading historical fiction, theology, and Church history books.