Rick Rafter of Clyo was ordained as a permanent deacon Saturday by Bishop Gregory Hartmayer, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah. Rafter was one of 18 ordained in a ceremony held at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Savannah.

Rafter, a native of upstate New York, moved to Effingham County in 1987 with his wife Deborah and their three children. The Rafters are founding members of the St. Boniface parish in Springfield.

He began his career as a sonar technician aboard the nuclear-powered submarine USS Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN-631) from 1969-73. He was employed for almost 30 years in various capacities such as research and development technician, technical manual manager, logistics manager and engineering manager.

Rafter received his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 2002 and has been practicing law in Georgia since 2003. He is a partner in Ratchford and Rafter.

Rafter earned his masters in theology from St. Leo’s College in Florida in 2011.