Deacon Gene P. Neral was ordained to the Diaconate on June 1, 1985, for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, PA. He is past director of the office of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese (2003-2015). He received his education from the University of Dayton, OH, coupled with Saint Francis College and Saint Vincent College in PA as part of preparation for ordination to the Diaconate. He served the first ten years of his ministry at Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Duncansville, PA, and has served as a resident deacon at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Altoona, PA for over twenty-five years. Along with his wife Barbara, they raised three sons and are the proud grandparents of one granddaughter and three grandsons.They reside in Altoona, PA.