Deacon Richard Ferreira, MSW, MAT

Director, Center for Diaconate Formation
Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology

Ordained for the Diocese of Metuchen in 2022, studied with the Metuchen Spanish language cohort, Deacon Richard brings the gift of being bilingual to his ministry here at ICSST.

The principal of my work as a Metuchen deacon, was ministry in the Diocese of Trenton, where, for the past decade, he served as program director, leading a staff of eleven, with Catholic Charities in Burlington and Mercer counties for the benefit of homeless men and women. The impact of the mission is impressive, but more so humble: in 2023, for example, 36,000 children were fed, and 3.400 families received emergency shelter. Prior to that, since 1998, I served the poor in New York City through Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, Helping Hands Unlimited, and other organizations.

I have served on the formation board for the most recent Metuchen diaconate candidate cohort. In addition to his Master’s Degree from ICSST, I hold a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University.