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.
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.