August 22 was a day of jubilation, thanksgiving and collective prayer as Bishop Alberto Rojas ordained nine men to the Permanent Diaconate at St. Frances of Rome parish in Wildomar.
“As they step forward to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders as permanent deacons, they’re not just taking a new title, they are conforming their very lives to Christ Jesus, the servant, who came to serve and not to be served,” Bishop Rojas said.
These nine newly ordained deacons enter their new ministry as clergy of the Catholic Church after years of formation and discernment.
“Praise the Lord for His immense love and mercy,” said newly ordained Deacon Francisco Galaz. “With our hearts overflowing with joy and deep gratitude to God with a gift of life and a call to the sacraments of service to the community. [As Jesus said] ‘I give you a new commandment that you love one another as I love you.’ It is for this that we, the new deacons, Jorge Alvarado Torres, Fernando Andrade Beltran, Claudio Dominguez, Oscar Dominguez Bernal, Mark Miller, William Mendez, Rodrick Morales, Felipe Olvera, and I, Francisco Galaz, are ordained today.”
Permanent deacons are ordained ministers who serve the Church in the role of Word, liturgy and charity. Among other duties, they baptize infants, witness marriages, and preside at funerals outside of Mass. With this year’s ordination there are now 183 Permanent Deacons in the diocese.
The Ordination began with the deacons, priests, and Bishop Rojas and Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barnes processing into the large church that was filled to capacity. After the proclaiming of the Gospel, Deacon Luis Sanchez, Vicar for Deacons, presented the nine men to Bishop Rojas and voiced their readiness to enter the diaconate.
“I testify that they have been found worthy,” Dcn. Sanchez said.
“We choose these our brothers for the Order of the Diaconate. Thanks be to God,” Bishop Rojas replied and all present broke out in a loud applause, expressing their gratitude and joy.
Then, Bishop Rojas delivered the homily, where he noted that most of the nine men were still working full-time jobs to support their families.
“I understand these brothers are not becoming deacons because they have nothing to do,” Bishop Rojas chuckled. “Most of them are still not retired, they are working, they are husbands, they are fathers, and yet out of their heart and generosity they have decided to listen to that call of Jesus and to respond positively and that’s the reason they’re here.”
Bishop Rojas went on to thank the deacons’ wives and families for their acceptance and support and asked them to continue to do so. Bishop Rojas also took this time to tell the nine men that the “permanent deacon is called to find, to serve” and to “continue formation as you serve Christ and the Church.”
Before performing the Rite of Ordination, Bishop Rojas concluded the homily praying to the Holy Spirt and our Blessed Mother Mary.
“As you receive the laying on of hands today may the Holy Spirit ignite in you a fire of charity that never burns out,” Bishop Rojas said. “May our Blessed Mother Mary intercede for your needs before the Lord.”
During the Rite of Ordination of Deacons, the men knelt, one-by-one, before Bishop Rojas and pledged obedience to him. During this rite, Bishop Rojas placed his hands over the men’s hands and asked them, “do you promise respect and obedience to me and my successors?” Then the men replied saying “I do.” Bishop Rojas then said, “may God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”
Just before the Laying of Hands, the men lied prostrate on the floor as the choir sang the Litany of Saints, calling upon the saints of the Church to pray for the men as they prepared to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Then it was time for the Laying of Hands. The men knelt before Bishop Rojas and he took the time to place his hands on each of the men’s heads, said a prayer and, thus, made the men deacons. After, they were given a stole and dalmatic, vestments of a deacon, and put them on. Then, they were given a Book of the Gospels to signify their role in proclaiming the Word.
“Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach,” Bishop Rojas said to the new deacons.
Then, Bishop Rojas, Bishop Emeritus Barnes, clergy and congregation lined up to hug and congratulate each new deacon, during the Kiss of Peace rite.
Newly ordained deacons Fernando Andrade Beltran and Galaz offered brief remarks at the end of Mass, thanking the St. Frances of Rome parish community, their formators, bishops, priests, deacons and especially their families.
“Thank you for that big ‘yes’ for your support, prayers and accompaniment in our diaconate formation, with love, respect, and admiration, thank you,” Dcn. Galaz said. “We’re also grateful to our families and friends in parish communities who prayed for each one of us through all these years.”
The new deacons are currently assigned to serve at their home parishes, which are: Dcn. Jorge Alvarado Torres, Saint Oscar Romero, Eastvale; Dcn. Fernando Andrade Beltran, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Riverside; Dcn. Claudio Dominguez, St. Martha, Murrieta; Dcn. Oscar Dominguez Bernal, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Winchester; Dcn. Francisco Galaz, Our Lady of Hope Church, San Bernardino; Dcn. William Mendez, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Rancho Cucamonga; Dcn. Mark Miller, Blessed Sacrament, 29 Palms; Dcn. Rodrick Morales, Sacred Heart Church, Rancho Cucamonga; and Dcn. Felipe Olvera, Corpus Christi, Corona.