Bishop Eckman to Ordain Five Men as Transitional Deacons

Bishop Mark A. Eckman will ordain five men to the transitional diaconate during a 10 a.m. Mass on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at St. Thomas More Church, part of Resurrection Parish. Antonino “Nino” Castellano, Colin Kulmoski, Peter Mallampalli, Thach Ngoc Nguyen and Thanh Tung Nguyen will take this important step in their journey toward the priesthood. They are expected to be ordained priests next year.

All are welcome to attend the ordination Mass at St. Thomas More Church, 126 Fort Couch Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. The Mass will also be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person. Livestream information and additional details about the five men are available at the diocesan website, www.diopitt.org.

“This is a joyful day for these five men, their families and the entire Church of Pittsburgh,” Bishop Eckman said. “Each of them has spent years praying, discerning and preparing to give his life in service to Christ and His Church. I ask everyone in our diocese to pray for Nino, Colin, Peter, Thach and Tung as they take this important step toward the priesthood, and to continue praying that more men will hear and respond to God’s call.”

Transitional deacons are men in the final stages of preparation for ordination to the priesthood. These five men have spent at least six years in priestly formation, including academic studies in philosophy and theology, spiritual formation, a deepening life of prayer and extensive pastoral service in parishes and communities.

Through ordination, they will become members of the clergy and begin serving the Church as deacons. They will assist priests at Mass, proclaim the Gospel and may preach homilies. Deacons can baptize, witness marriages and preside at funeral services outside of Mass. Their ministry also includes works of charity and service to people in need.

Biographical information for each of the men follows:

Antonino M. “Nino” Castellano

Nino, whose home parish is St. Jude Parish, graduated from Central Catholic High School and earned a degree in theology and catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Before entering seminary in 2021, he served as coordinator of catechetical ministries at St. Jude. He later continued theological studies at Theological College and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. His formation has included a summer pastoral practicum at St. Isidore the Farmer Parish, which serves the Avella, Burgettstown, Fort Cherry and West Allegheny areas.

Colin B. Kulmoski

Colin, whose home parish is Regina Coeli Parish, graduated from Central Catholic High School and studied mechanical engineering at Hofstra University before entering priestly formation in 2021. He continued theological studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. His formation has included pastoral service at Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish, which serves the Clairton, Jefferson Hills, Pleasant Hills and West Mifflin areas.

Peter T. Mallampalli

Peter, whose home parish is St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish, attended Aquinas Academy and North Allegheny High School before studying philosophy at Duquesne University. He entered priestly formation in 2020 and later began theological studies at Theological College and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. His formation has included an extended pastoral year and additional pastoral experience at St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish, which serves the Beechview and Brookline communities.

Thach Ngoc Nguyen

Thach was born in Ha Tinh, Vietnam, and earned a degree in mechanical technology there before entering priestly formation for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 2020. Following his initial studies at St. Paul Seminary and Franciscan University of Steubenville, he continued at Theological College and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. His most recent pastoral practicum was at St. Catherine Labouré Parish, which serves the South Park and Upper St. Clair communities.

Thanh Tung Nguyen

Tung was born in Ha Tinh, Vietnam. He studied building engineering and taught religion to children in his parish before entering priestly formation for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 2020. He later began theological studies at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe. His most recent pastoral formation assignment was at Resurrection Parish, which serves the Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair communities.