From Angelus:
Archbishop José H. Gomez ordained 19 men to the permanent diaconate during a June 6 multi-lingual Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
“Brothers, you are called to be servants of love,” said the archbishop during his homily, directly addressing this year’s diaconate formation class, including Deacons Carlos Castro (St. Elisabeth, Van Nuys); José de Jesús Benavides (St. Marcellinus, City of Commerce); Juan Navarro (St. Joseph, Hawthorne); Dennis Shinn (St. Denis, Diamond Bar); Donald Burt (St. Lawrence Martyr, Redondo Beach); Gabriel Saavedra (St. Bruno, Whittier); Gilberto Herrera-Hernández (Our Lady of Peace, North Hills) and Joseph Flores (St. Benedict, Montebello).
Also among this year’s class are Deacons Joseph Domond (Our Lady of Assumption, Claremont); José Luis Diaz (Sacred Heart, Altadena); José Ortiz (Mary Immaculate, Pacoima); José Sedano (Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Los Nietos); José Peñate-Mojica (Holy Name of Jesus, L.A.); Marciano Enriquez (Our Lady of Lourdes, Tujunga); Mario López (Guardian Angel, Pacoima); Omar Uriate (St. Louis De Marilac, Covina); Ramón Nuñez (Maria Regina, Gardena); Samuel Montoya (St. Pancratius, Lakewood) and Serj Harutunian (Incarnation, Glendale).
“You are being called to this vocation of love at an important moment in the life of the Church … when our world needs a new witness to the reality of God’s mercy,” said Archbishop Gomez. “As deacons, you are servants of love, and mercy is love in action. … It means going out to seek the lost, it means lifting up those who have fallen, it means helping others to find the path that God is calling them to.
“Open your hearts to serving the family of God in love and mercy,” he added, “and walk always with the Holy Spirit … and let the spirit guide you. Ask him for the light you need to see, to help you meet the challenges in your ministry.”
Congratulations and welcome, brothers! Ad multos annos!
And today we celebrate...