Deacon Frank Iannarino Celebrates 20 Years of Service as a Deacon

Deacon Frank Iannarino grew up in Columbus and attended Columbus St. Catherine and St. Charles High School. Growing up he was active as an altar server, worked at the parish as a sacristan, and performed other parish odd jobs.  He enjoyed playing his guitar in a band that performed at nursing homes, and also was very active in a variety of sports.

A Service-oriented Family

“I was always drawn to service-oriented activities. My parents and my large Italian family were always involved with helping others and set a great example for us,” said Deacon Iannarino who is the second of five children. Deacon Iannarino also had a call to teach. “I knew a lot of great teachers and coaches who were priests while in school.  I always wanted to teach and I did think about the priesthood because so many priests and sisters were my role models as a teacher.”

Met his Future Wife Peggy

After high school, Deacon Iannarino attended Capital University where he received undergraduate degrees in History and Education. He was also involved with a service fraternity and became friends with many Lutheran seminarians. “I experienced a slight crisis in my Catholic faith at that time because before college I thought the whole world was Roman Catholic.” He began dating his future wife, Peggy, while at Capital and was privileged to do his student-teaching at Saint Francis DeSales High School.

Taught History at Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School

After college, Deacon Iannarino began a teaching job at Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School in Portsmouth. He was asked to teach the History of the Catholic Church. “The principal said, ‘Frank, you have a history degree, right? Then you can teach Church history, right?’ So all the sudden I was forced to look at history through the eyes of the Church. Through this experience, I rediscovered my love for the Catholic Church.”

Taught and Coached at Bishop Watterson High School

He taught in Portsmouth for two years and then returned to Columbus and married Peggy in 1979.  He pursued a Masters in Education and started to teach religion and coach at Bishop Watterson high school after being recommended by the religion department chair, Msgr. John Cody.

Received M.A. from The Ohio State University

Deacon Iannarino received his M.A. in Education from The Ohio State University in 1980. He was also active as a teacher and coach at Bishop Watterson and he and Peggy started their family. Msgr. Cody encouraged him to go back to school to receive a Masters Degree in Theology so that he could become the chairman of the Theology Department at Bishop Watterson.

A Call to the Diaconate

Also, at Msgr. Cody’s urgings, Deacon Iannarino began thinking about a call to the diaconate. He began in the diaconate formation program at the Pontifical College Josephinum in 1985. In 1987, with some changes occurring in the diaconate program, Bishop James A. Griffin requested that Deacon Iannarino complete an internship with Msgr. Paul Enke at the newly founded St. Brigid of Kildare parish in Dublin. He was ordained as a deacon on November, 11th, 1989, and assigned to St. Brigid of Kildare parish where he has served ever since.

Deacon Means Servant

He speaks passionately about the role of the deacon as servant. “We are founded in the servant image of Christ. The deacon has three ministries — Word, Altar and Charity.  A deacon’s ministry always flows from a charitable heart, a servant’s heart.”

Appointed Director of the Diaconate Program

In 1992, Bishop Griffin appointed Deacon Iannarino as Director of the Diaconate for the Diocese of Columbus. The Bishop had a vision of a new formation program for the deacons. “He wanted quality deacons not just quantity… deacons needed to be the eyes and ears of the bishop and to have a place for central support through this Office,” said Deacon Iannarino.

A Move to Dublin

It was at about this time that Deacon Iannarino and his wife, Peggy, discovered that their oldest daughter Katie had a brain tumor. Their son Kevin was a toddler and Peggy was expecting their youngest child Kristen. “Somehow God got us through all this. Katie survived the tumor and Katie had a boost when Kristen was born.” In 1993, Deacon Iannarino and his family moved to Dublin so that Katie could take advantage of the specialized services provided in the Dublin school system.

Support from Peggy

Deacon Iannarino is very grateful for the love and support of his wife, children and family throughout his life and in serving as a deacon. “My wife Peggy is fabulous. She has been so supportive and the kids have been too. We all enjoy serving. I like to say that we have a diaconal home,” said Deacon Iannarino.

Theology Chair and Chaplain at Watterson

Deacon Iannarino continues in his many roles as theology department chair and chaplain at Bishop Watterson High School where he serves with Deacon Chris Campbell and a wonderful faculty. He directs the diaconate program for the diocese and shares diaconal ministry at St. Brigid of Kildare parish with Deacon Don Poirier. He is the USCCB Region 6 representative to the National Association of Deacon Directors, based at the Pontifical College Josephinum; he is on the Villas at St. Therese Board of Directors; and the vice-chair of the Diocesan Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Active in Parish Life

In the parish, Deacon Iannarino coordinates the RCIA, leads marriage preparation, and he is passionate about social justice issues. He founded the Social Action committee at St. Brigid and helped kick-off sandwich Saturdays as well as other service projects. “The deacon helps to startup these activities and then should turn it over to laity,” said Deacon Iannarino.
When reflecting on the growth of the diaconate in the Columbus Diocese, he said, “This diocese is on the cutting edge with a strong formation program and with deacons assigned into deaneries so they can support each other,” said Deacon Iannarino.

Deacons Receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders

“I like to explain the diaconate in this way. When the Bishop lays hands on your head, you don’t get something… it is when he removes his hands that he is releasing the Holy Spirit in a new way --- a way that was given to you when you were baptized and confirmed,” said Deacon Iannarino. “You have the charism of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, but as deacons, we must always remember that we walk this journey with bishops, priests, religious and the laity as Jesus the Servant.”