Deacon Richard Ferreira, MSW, MAT

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

Ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Metuchen in 2022, Deacon Ferreira studied with the Metuchen Spanish-language cohort through Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology’s Center for Diaconal Formation. Deacon Ferreira brings to his ministry at ICSST the gift of being bilingual.

For a decade, until Deacon Ferreira became Director of ICSST’s Center for Diaconal Formation, he served Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Trenton in Burlington and Mercer Counties. There, Deacon Ferreria served as Program Director, leading a staff of eleven, for the benefit of homeless men and women. The impact of the mission is impressive, but more so, humbling: In 2023, for example, 36,000 children were fed, and 3,400 families received emergency shelter. Prior to his work for Catholic Charities, since 1998, Deacon Ferreira had served the poor in New York City through Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, Helping Hands Unlimited, and other organizations.

He has served on the formation board for the most recent Metuchen diaconate candidate cohort. In addition to his Master of Arts in Theology from ICSST, Deacon Ferreira holds a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University.