Seminarian Eric Chapa ordained to the transitional diaconate at St. Peter's

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Deacon Eric Chapa prepares the altar after his ordination at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostle on July 1. See more photos below.

Monica Cardenas for South Texas Catholic

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Eric Chapa remembers working at the Mother Teresa Shelter the summer before he entered the seminary. “It taught me that God is everywhere and in anybody. I saw people in terrible circumstances or going through such pain, but they still had joy,” he said. “It was an interesting lesson.”

After several years studying in seminary in Rome, Bishop Michael Mulvey ordained Deacon Chapa to the sacred order of deacons on July 1 at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Unlike the permanent diaconate where men are not planning to be ordained priests, a transitional deacon is on his last step to becoming a priest; he is in the transitioning phase of his formation to the priesthood. 

Deacon Chapa said that, while growing up, his family always talked about God. Over the years his family, his parish family at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and friends from school had—through their faith—influenced his call to the priesthood. 

It seemed to him that he spent as much time at church as he did with his family, which included his parents Gabriel and Priscilla Chapa, his two sisters, Vanessa and Roxanne. Although Roxanne died at birth, she is still very much a part of his prayer life. He feels very strongly that Roxanne has been with him, helping him. 

“As well as my life has gone—I had to have had some heavenly help—from someone or several someone’s. I don’t necessarily feel it all the time—sometimes it’s an act of faith—it has to be,” he said.

He was always curious about the priesthood ever since he was a child. He remembers his pastor Msgr. Morgan Rowsome who had been the earliest and greatest inspiration to him. “I just saw how happy and how joyful he was. That was real attractive to me,” he said.

After graduating from Tuloso-Midway High School in Corpus Christi, Deacon Chapa enrolled at St. Edward’s University in Austin where he earned a bachelor’s degree and then was sent to Rome for his seminary training at the Pontifical North American College, whose slogan is “Forming priests for Jesus Christ in the heart of His Church.” 

Being assigned to Rome presented a new set of challenges to Deacon Chapa. Besides learning new languages—Latin and Italian—he had to broaden himself, make new friends and acquire a new support system. He had to reach out to his classmates, who were as homesick as he was. When he did reach out he realized he was not alone. 
Like most seminarians, he has had some doubts but never about God. 

“I had doubts about if I have the strength, patience or endurance to give myself to God in the Church as fully as I knew I wanted or needed to. I knew I could do what needed to be done academically. I only doubted myself,” he said. “I would question whether I could give up marriage, having a family and a certain bit of freedom when you take the vow of obedience. It was the human side of entering into a life of sacrifice.” 

To others who may be discerning a call to religious life or the priesthood, Deacon Chapa says that, “if you are open to the possibility—God’s not going to make you something you’re not.” Even if the individual confronts a life of sacrifice, God is not going to take away who he or she is. “He’s not going to change you into something you’re not. You’re still you. Whatever it is that makes you…will only be enhanced. Don’t put limits on what God can make happen,” Deacon Chapa said.

Now that the promise to celibacy is actually a reality in his life he realizes that as far as the church is concerned and as far as he is concerned he is “a married man, a spouse of the Church.” 

“I still have to keep reminding myself in my heart—it’s a whole new reality. On the human level—not much is different. I don’t feel that much different, but I’m not a bachelor—I’m married to the church.”

When his parish ministry got started, once he got involved in people’s lives, he found it very rewarding—he did not feel lonely. It was not until he was assigned to parishes, during his seminary years, that he knew for sure that this was where God was going to make him happy. He served one summer at St. Joseph in Beeville and his pastoral year at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Corpus Christi. 

The parish “is a joyful place for me–its like being with family.” 

Last summer he worked at Scott and White Hospital in Temple for his Clinical Pastoral Education. For two-months he was in contact with the daily sufferings of people. 

He said the experience reinforced what he learned at the parish, which was the value of just being a very simple presence to people—just a reassurance that we are all in it together—through the good times and through the suffering. 

“I learned that you cannot solve people’s problems, you can just be there with them through it. And I think that if that’s true with physical problems, it’s just as true with more spiritual and emotional things that people in the parish would have. You may not be able to solve their problems, but you can be a companion on their journey for them. That’s always what I try to do with anybody,” Deacon Chapa said.

Deacon Chapa has been assigned to St. Pius X Parish and he is happy to be back in a parish and family environment once again.