Eleven men take next step in diaconate formation program

Deacon candidates pictured with Deacon Michael Mantz and Bishop Michael Mulvey are, in top row, from left, Deacon Mantz, Bishop Mulvey, Shayne Katzfey and Stephen Mark Christoph. In middle row are Michael Valenzuela, Louis Naro, Amando Leal and Ronald Janota. In front row are Fernando Perez, Narciso Ortiz, Robert Rosales, Emilio Flores and Hector Salinas. Ervey Martinez for South Texas Catholic

On Saturday, Aug. 30, Bishop Michael Mulvey celebrated the Installation Mass in the Corpus Christi Cathedral for 11 candidates to the permanent diaconate. The men were installed as Candidates and Lectors in the next step of the diaconate formation program for the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

The program, a five-year program of study that prepares men to serve as permanent deacons, consists of three major paths; Inquiry, Aspirancy and Candidacy. Each path contains several dimensions, such as human, academic, pastoral, spiritual and diaconal.

Those admitted as candidates and instituted as lectors were Stephen Mark Christoph from Sacred Heart in Mathis; Emilio Flores from St. Anthony of Padua in Robstown; Ronald Janota from Sacred Heart in Rockport; Shayne Katzfey from St. George Parish in George West; Amando Leal from Corpus Christi Cathedral; Louis Naro, from Sacred Heart in Rockport; Narciso Ortiz from Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Fernando Perez from Sts. Cyril & Methodious; Robert Rosales from Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Portland; Hector Salinas from St. Patrick Parish in Corpus Christi; and Michael Valenzuela from Our Lady of Guadalupe in Sarita.

"These men have worked very hard but they are still only half-way through in terms of their studies," Deacon Michael Mantz, Director for the Permanent Diaconate, said.

"At this point, the new directory for the Diaconate Formation Program calls for the aspirant to make a public commitment by stating to the bishop and the community that they will resolve themselves to complete their studies and to prepare themselves in mind and spirit to give faithful service to the church," Mantz said.

Rosales said he was first accepted into the diaconate inquiry process in the summer of 2011. The following year he applied and was accepted into the diaconate formation program.

"God calls each of us to serve him in a unique way, and we must continually listen and respond in the way he wants us to serve," Rosales said. "I first felt the call to the diaconate in 2007, however, I didn?t answer it at the time, and I felt as though I had missed my opportunity to serve God on his terms."

When the next call to the diaconate came, Rosales answered the call and "God opened all the doors" necessary for him to enter the formation process. ?God continually reminds me of Isaiah 43:1, 'I have called you by name: you are mine'," Rosales said.

The men and their wives attend practicums and academic classes on most Saturdays for about 10 months out of the year. The University of St. Thomas, St. Mary's Seminary in Houston, conducts the academic portion, which is done via video conferencing. Local and visiting clergy conduct the practicums.

When they complete the diaconate formation program and are ordained permanent deacons they will receive their assignments from the bishop, which may or may not be at their home parish.

"The Letter of James warns us against presumption in chapter four," Rosales said. "Since we have no idea what life will be like tomorrow, I can only say that if the Lord wills it the bishop will ordain me a deacon and assign me to our parish."

The Diocese of Corpus Christi's permanent diaconate department will begin to advertise for the next formation class during the spring of 2015. Anyone interested in diaconate studies should contact Deacon Mantz at the Permanent Diaconate Office at (361) 289-2343 or [email protected].

(Ervey Martinez contributed to this article.)