Tom Richardt was ordained to the Office of Deacon by the Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet on Saturday, August 25, 2007. Tom and his wife Barbara have three children: Andy (who lives in the Boston area - married with 2 children); Amy (who is married and lives in Chicago); and Sarah (a recent Boston college graduate also living in Boston).

Tom has seven brothers and sisters — who, Tom says, “have been and continue to be my source of inspiration”. Tom and Barbara have been St. Joan of Arc Parishioners since 1995. Tom grew up in southern Indiana, where he received his graduate and post graduate degrees from the University of Evansville — and married Barbara thirty-eight years ago. He was in the U.S. Air Force for 5 years —and in 2002, after 35 years with Kraft Foods, he retired from business life and accepted a calling to a clerical vocation in the service of the Church.

Currently, Tom is the Coordinator of Social Justice and Outreach Ministries for St. Joan of Arc — a position that touches the lives of the poor and oppressed. His warm personality and tireless volunteerism have been invaluable to our parish and his gifts of understanding and compassion have touched and changed many lives in our community. As one of the deacons in our parish, Tom ministers Baptism, witnesses the Sacrament of Marriage, proclaims the Gospel, and assists the Celebrant Priest at the Eucharist.