By Katie Vasquez
The kitchen has always been a sanctuary for Deacon Robert Ruggiero, a passion that grew from those he loved.
“Early on, I was kind of surrounded by people who loved cooking,” said Deacon Robert Ruggiero who will be ordained in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Creating dishes like cataplana that blended his Italian and Portuguese background.
“This particular dish would be made by my mother,” said Deacon Ruggiero, “basically putting things together like seafood, clams and mussels and shrimp, basically whatever, whatever you enjoy.”
Growing up in Carroll Gardens, he remembers spending time with family after Sunday mass at Sacred Heart-St Stephen’s Church.
“It was kind of very beautiful in a sense, because we had we went together as a family, to mass and got to celebrate together, the holy eucharist and, and being around, the lord’s table and then coming together as a family, to be around our own table, with one another,” said Deacon Ruggiero.
Deacon Robert’s call to the priesthood started at a young age but he admits he wasn’t ready to listen yet. He spent years working as a layperson in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Father Thomas Doyle, the pastor at Good Shepherd church encouraged him to follow his vocation.
“Whether or not it was in a parish or diocesan office or as a DRE in a parish, he was always determined to to be a part of the church and to be part of something greater,” said Father Doyle.
At 55 years old, Deacon Robert is the oldest of the transitional deacons that will be ordained to the priesthood, but he knows the timing was perfect.
“There was something holding me back, and it wasn’t until I made that consecration. to Saint Joseph that just, like, opened the pathway,” said Deacon Ruggiero.
And Deacon Robert hopes to use his life experience to help the faithful.
“We need to be spiritual fathers. We need to be spiritual physicians, you know, and we need to bring healing into the life of the church spiritually, emotionally and bodily,” said Deacon Ruggiero.
Deacon Robert says he won’t be hanging up his serving spoon anytime soon.
He’s merely devoting his time to feeding those hungry for the Lord.