23 men respond to call

Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey ordained 23 men as Permanent Deacons on Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Corpus Christi Cathedral, capping a five-year program discernment and preparation.

The Cathedral was overflowing with family, friends and well-wishers, including brother deacons and scores of priests that will serve as mentors and co-workers in God’s vineyard.

“You are called to minister to the Word of God, you are called to serve the sacramental life of the church and you are also called to be a true sign of charity,” Bishop Mulvey told the new deacons.

The ministry of the Word includes proclaiming the Gospel during Mass, preaching and teaching.

The sacramental ministry includes various parts of the Mass proper to the deacon: being an ordinary minister of Holy Communion and the proper minister of the chalice when Holy Communion is administered under both species.

Deacons are also ordinary ministers of the sacrament of Baptism and can serve as the Church’s witness at the sacrament of Holy Matrimony; they may preside in certain funeral rites not involving a Mass, such as the final commendation at the grave site or the reception of the body at a service in the funeral home. They may preside over other various services such as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Deacons cannot hear confession, give absolution, anoint the sick or celebrate Mass.
The ministry of charity involves service to the poor and marginalized and working with parishioners to help them become more involved in charitable works. 

Reading from the ordination rite, Bishop Mulvey presented the Book of the Gospels to each candidate with the words “believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”

In addition to presenting the book to the candidates, each candidate knelt before the bishop and placed their hands between those of the bishop and promised to respect and obey the bishop and his successors.

The candidates then prostrated themselves as a sign of humility while the congregation prayed a litany of supplication. After the litany, the men knelt before the bishop as the bishop laid his hands on each one of their heads and then prayed the prayer of ordination.

After the ordination, other deacons and priests present helped the new deacons put on their stole and dalmatic, which were brought to the altar by their wives. The wives also brought the offerings to the altar.

All of the men are married, and are living their vocation of marriage.

“People have referred to the diaconate ordination of married men as a second vocation.  I have always believed that a married man’s vocation is his marriage.  Holy Orders to the diaconate as a permanent deacon and a married man is the Church sacramentalizing the ministry of service and commitment that each man gives to Holy Mother Church in helping to build –up the Body of Christ,” Deacon Michael Mantz, Director for the Permanent Diaconate, said.

Bishop Mulvey concluded the ceremony with a fraternal kiss to the newly ordained.

Deacon Mantz said the men and their families worked very hard, and made many sacrifices over the last five years. The work and sacrifice will payoff, Deacon Mantz said, and the men “will be excellent ministers for our local Church.”

Msgr. Louis Kihneman, Vicar General, and Father Emilio Jimenez, Vicar for Clergy, contributed greatly to the men’s formation, Deacon Mantz said.

Preparation for the men who wish to become permanent deacons entails a year of prayerful preparation, a five-year training period that resembles a collegiate course of study and a year of post-ordination formation as well as the need for lifelong continuing education credits.

Candidates receive instruction in philosophy, theology, Scriptures, homiletics, sacramental studies, evangelization, ecclesiology, counseling and pastoral care and ministry before ordination.

The formation program requires wives to go through the training alongside their husbands.
Bishop Mulvey thanked the new Deacons and their wives and wished them well in the challenges they will encounter in their new ministry. All 23 men have already been assigned to the parishes they will serve.

The new deacons and the parishes they will serve include Jesse Lee Hinojosa, Corpus Christi Cathedral; Alfredo Castillo and Tomas Gallegos, Holy Family; David G. Castillo and Félix Muñoz, Most Precious Blood; and Arnold Marcha Sr., Alfonso L. Ramírez and Armando Sánchez, Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Also serving parishes in Corpus Christi are Bernardo C. Vargas, Sacred Heart; Richard Longoria, St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus; Julio Dimas, St. John the Baptist; J. C. Ayala, St. Joseph; Francisco Rodríguez Jr., St. Paul the Apostle; Daniel P. Shaunessy, St. Philip the Apostle; Manuel G. Marroquín, St. Pius X; and Albert Galván, Sts. Cyril & Methodius.

New deacons serving parishes in the rest of the diocese include Ernesto Gutiérrez, St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Alice; Emede M. González, St. Joseph in Alice; José Alonzo Garza Jr., St. James Mission in Driscoll; Danny L. Herrera, St. Martin of Tours in Kingsville; Robert Flores, Sacred Heart in Odem; Jesús Rubén Maldonado, St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus in Premont; and Daniel Boehm, Sacred Heart in Rockport.

The new deacons bring the total number of deacons in the diocese to 103, of which 16 are retired. The current class of deacons, scheduled for ordination in 2016, includes 13 candidates.

A new class of deacons starts at the time of ordination for the current class and goes through five years of formation under the guidance of Deacon John Joiner who heads the formation team. The teaching staff of the University of St. Thomas, St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, provides classes for the prospective deacons.

The bishop reminded the new deacons that their ministry together with the bishop and their pastor is not their ministry. 

“It is the ministry of Jesus Christ,” the bishop said.