10 men to be ordained as permanent deacons

Ten men from the Diocese of Corpus Christi will be ordained to the Order of Deacon by Bishop Michael Mulvey at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Corpus Christi Cathedral. Those being called to the Order are Stephan Mark Christoph, Emilio Flores, Jr., Ronald Lee Janota, Shayne Katzfy, Amando Ramón Leal, Jr., Narciso Ortiz, Fernando Pérez, Robert E. Rosales, Héctor G. Salinas and Michael David Valenzuela.

"These men and their families have made a journey for five years to arrive at this point," said Deacon Michael Mantz, Director for the Office of the Permanent Diaconate. "Their journey began in 2011 as they were recommended by their pastors and discerned about their possible calling to the ministry of deacon in the Church. This period, which lasted about a year, also included the Church authority discerning about them as viable candidates to enter formation."

The candidates come from various parts of the diocese. Christoph is parishioner at Sacred Heart Parish in Mathis and he and his wife Carol Lynn have two children. Flores hails from St. Anthony of Padua in Robstown and he and his wife Mary Helen also have two children. Janota and his wife Kelly Rita and their two children are parishioners at Sacred Heart in Rockport. St. George Parish in George West is Katzfy's home where he and his wife Lori Ann and their three children are parishioners. Leal's home parish is Corpus Christi Cathedral where he and his wife Criselda and their two children go to church.

Ortiz, his wife Linda Marie and their three children attend church at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Ss. Cyril & Methodius is the parish home for Perez, his wife Marie Catherine and their three children. Rosales is a parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Portland where his family, including wife Denise and their three children attend. Salinas, along with his wife Diana and their two children, are parishioners at St. Patrick in Corpus Christi. Valenzuela attends Our Lady of Guadalupe in Sarita, along with his wife Jennifer and their two children.

Deacon Mantz oversees the current ordained deacons and the formation of future deacons.  The entire formation process covers a five-year time frame and requires men be formed in several dimensions, including academic, human, spiritual, pastoral and diaconal. Each of these dimensions are covered during the different stages or paths contained in the program, which include inquiry, discernment, aspirancy and candidacy.

St. Mary's Seminary in Houston oversees the academic dimension via videoconference, while the other dimensions are taught and handled by the priests, deacons and other local, qualified professionals with expertise in the various fields.

"Bishop Mulvey has been very pro-active in helping to develop and give constructive guidance to forming deacons for the Church," Deacon Mantz said. "Bishop Mulvey interviewed and screened our candidates several times during their formation, giving his approval on those who were chosen to advance through the various stages."

Mantz said the formation program has been improving, especially over the last 15 years. 

"The pastors and priests have been very helpful and instrumental in helping to identify and recommend men who might have a calling to the ministry of deacon. They have also helped in supporting them throughout the formation years, both monetarily by helping to cover expenses and by helping to mentor their candidates in a parish setting."

The formation directors also make the formation program successful, Deacon Mantz said. The current directors are Deacon Paul Moore and Deacon Al Cicora.

"They are excellent leaders and formators. They live through this formation process with each of the men and their wives. They are always present to help with 'bumpy roads' but also to instruct and give constructive criticism when necessary," Deacon Mantz said.

Wives must give their written consent for their husbands to petition the bishop to receive the Order of Deacon. This is why, Deacon Mantz said, the spouse is actively involved in the entire process of formation. Wives are required to attend all of the practicums; the training in spiritual, pastoral, human and diaconal dimensions. This allows the wife to be not only actively involved in understanding the formation process, but to form community with the other wives, which helps to develop a support group that is necessary in ministry. 

"Deacons need other deacons and deacon wives need other deacon wives," Deacon Mantz said. "The wives of these men are owed a special recognition for their unyielding support during this entire process."  

The diocese currently has a new class of 19 aspirants in its formation program. Their journey began in August 2015 and they are in their first year of academics. This class will run through 2020, with the next inquiry and recruitment scheduled for 2019.

"I want to congratulate our class of new deacons for their dedicated and honest approach to being formed. Formation is a process, not just of the head but also most importantly of the heart. St. Thomas Aquinas said the three characteristics of a servant are: humility, obedience and efficiency," Deacon Mantz said. "I think I have seen each one of these men grow and be formed in each of these characteristics. I also want to thank them for allowing us to form them. I pray that our Lord will truly bless them and their families as they continue their work in the vineyard as God's holy deacons."