An answered prayer: a dying man is ordained a deacon and priest
September 9, 2014 by
I got this email this morning:
Yesterday I asked for your prayers for a 4th year theologian/seminarian for the Diocese of Nashville, William Carmona. He was due to be ordained a deacon this Fall and ordained a priest in June; however, he is dying from cancer. Bishop Choby chose to ordain William both as a deacon and a priest today, Sep. 8, if William was alert enough to participate. My prayer request was that he live long enough to be ordained. Those prayers have been answered.
The Continuous Rite of Ordination to Diaconate and Priesthood for William Carmona was able to be administered this morning beginning at 11:00 a.m. Father Carmona was taken to an auditorium in the hospital in San Antonio where he was attended by the medical staff and in which a number of people could be present.
Bishop Choby of Nashville was the ordaining prelate with Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio in attendance. Present also was Father Jeff Pehl, rector from Assumption Seminary. Present from the diocese were Deacon Jim McKenzie, Fathers Gervan Menezes, John Sims Baker, and John Hammond. Also present was one of our diocesan deacons, Deacon Rafael Bourgat. The Nashville seminarians studying at Assumption Seminary were present as well as many seminarians from the seminary.
With the counsel of the Bishop, Father Carmona had elected that following his ordination he would receive no further medical treatment except for medications to keep him comfortable. He continues to bleed from his stomach. Following the ordination, Father Carmona was taken back to ICU. The Bishop, Arcbishop, and Fathers Baker and Hammond are currently conducting the rites for the dying. Deacon Jim McKenzie says that he does not expect Father Carmona to survive the day.
Now we keep a holy vigil of prayer.
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