Deacon Damien was ordained as a deacon for the archdiocese of Toronto in 2010 to work with people experiencing terminal illness. His current pastoral assignment is in assisting the pastor of St. Francis Xavier mission on Christian Island in Georgian Bay. Since ordination his liturgical assignment has been at the parish of St. Philip Neri in Downsview, Toronto. Deacon Damien currently teaches at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and has been teaching religion and philosophy in Dufferin-Peel since 1998. He received an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree with a specialization in Christianity and Culture in 1997 and a Bachelor of Education degree from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in 1998. In 2007 he completed a Master of Arts degree in Ministry and Spirituality from Regis College at the University of Toronto. His academic interests are in spiritual theology and its pastoral application in a parish/school setting.