Last Updated on Monday, 16 June 2014 11:49
HUNTERSVILLE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis presided over a historic ordination May 31 for the permanent diaconate program in the Diocese of Charlotte. In a joyful and beautiful liturgical ceremony, Bishop Jugis ordained 16 new deacons, five of whom hail from Latin America – the largest class of incoming Latino deacons in the diocese's 42-year history.
"We're thrilled to have five excellent men with Spanish language skills in this class," said Deacon Ron Steinkamp, director of the permanent diaconate. "Prior to their ordination, we had only eight bilingual permanent deacons in the whole diocese. This is a big deal."
The five new Latino deacons are: Deacon Guillermo Anzola from Colombia; Deacon Sigfrido A. Della Valle from El Salvador; Deacon Marcos Mejías, born in Milwaukee, Wis., of Puerto Rican parents; Deacon Miguel Sebastían from Guatemala; and Deacon Rubén Tamayo from Havana, Cuba.
The wives, sons and daughters of the newly ordained men, as well as other family members and friends, packed St. Mark Church in Huntersville almost to capacity. They came to celebrate and to show their support and gratitude for these men, whose desire and commitment to serve the Lord and His Church helped them to persevere through the lengthy and meticulous formation process.
Pictured: Colombian-born Guillermo Anzola responds when his name is called during the election of candidates portion of the diaconate ordination Mass at St. Mark Church on May 31. (Rico De Silva | Catholic News Herald)
With close to an estimated 190,000 Latino Catholics in western North Carolina, Hispanics now account for more than half of the Catholic population in the diocese. These new Latino deacons will help minister to the pastoral needs of this large number of first-generation Latin-Americans in the diocese with limited or no-English proficiency. They will minister to those eager to have the Word of God proclaimed to them in their native Spanish.
"The most important role for me concerning Hispanic ministry is to unite myself with all those who are currently working hard in the Lord's vineyard – because it's only through giving that we receive and only through sharing that we grow," said Deacon Della Valle.
During the ordination, Bishop Jugis exhorted the new deacons, "Now, my dear sons, you are to be raised to the order of the diaconate. Jesus, by His own life, gave us many examples of service to human needs: feeding the hungry, healing the sick, laying down His life for all humanity's salvation. As He served in love and mercy, so also you should do. Serve the Lord joyfully and faithfully."
With career backgrounds as diverse as their countries of origin, the new deacons bring a unique flavor not only to parish ministry, but also to the secular environments of their daily living. Deacon Della Valle works as a building contractor. He, his wife Sonia, and their three daughters attend Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City. They moved to the diocese in 1994 from Florida.
Puerto Rican Deacon Marcos Mejías promises his obedience and respect to Bishop Jugis and his successors during the diaconate ordination Mass. (SueAnn Howell |Catholic News Herald)Deacon Marcos Mejías and his wife Ivonne moved to the diocese in 2001 from his native Puerto Rico, and have attended Holy Family Church in Clemmons since. He works as a controller at Wake Forrest Hospital in Winston-Salem. The Mejías have two grown-children, Marcos and Nicole, who both live out of state, but were present during the ordination.Deacon Rubén Tamayo was baptized in his native Cuba, and his family brought him to the U.S. when they immigrated via Miami, Fla., when he was just 6. Deacon Tamayo and his wife Aida moved to the diocese in 1997 and have two children, Andrew and Amanda. He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science, but works full-time as the youth ministry director at his home parish of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte. His wife Aida is the faith formation coordinator at the parish.
Deacon Miguel Sebastían recently became an American citizen, and describes himself as "100 percent Guatemalan and 100 percent Mayan Indian." Deacon Sebastian and his wife Ana have lived in the diocese since 1992. They are parishioners at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Morganton.
Deacon Guillermo Anzola and his wife Nora moved to Charlotte from their native Colombia in 1986 for Guillermo to pursue post-graduate studies. They have one son, Andrés. The Anzolas have been parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul in Charlotte since 2004.
Without exception, all the newly-ordained Hispanic deacons cited their five-year formation as the most difficult part of their journey to holy orders. The diaconate program is a serious commitment not only for the candidates, but also for their wives. It takes self-sacrifice and dedication – traits that can only be acquired by a discipline life of prayer and active contemplation to recognize the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
The whole process is exhaustive. Before candidates could even apply for the diaconate program, they need to have completed the two-year diocesan lay ministry program. Then they must get their pastor's recommendation and begin a one-year period of aspirancy, followed by four years of closely supervised formation.
Since the great majority of candidates to the diaconate are married, candidates are assigned deacon mentors who interview both husband and wife to assure that both of them are equally committed to the ministry.
"Without a doubt, the role a candidate's wife plays in the program is of the utmost importance. If we don't have the support of our wives on this journey to serve the Church in this capacity, it would be impossible for a candidate to successfully finish the formation program. Nora has had to sacrifice herself so much for me during these past five years of formation, and I'm so grateful to her because of it," Deacon Anzola said.
The new deacons will exercise their ministry of proclaiming the Gospel during the Liturgy and assisting the priest on the altar during the celebration of the Eucharist. They will also baptize, and assist and bless marriages in both English and Spanish. Deacon Mejías was quick to point out that a deacon should not limit himself to just one group of people within the Church. "The Apostles went out to proclaim and try to save not only the Jewish people, but the whole world. We deacons are ordained to minister to all races. And I will do my best to unite and break any existing barriers and work to permanently unite the whole human race."
Before the final blessing at their ordination Mass, Bishop Jugis congratulated the new deacons and their families. Bishop Jugis also pointed out that there is much work ahead for the new ordained ministers in the 14 parishes where they have been assigned. He told them with a smile, "Your ministry begins now."
— Rico De Silva, Hispanic Communications Reporter
Thanks to Deacons Bench
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