And one of the new deacons is the father of a monsignor.
From the Catholic Sentinel:
At October’s ordination to the permanent diaconate at St. Mary’s Cathedral, the front pews were filled with the wives, children and grandchildren of the three men being ordained — a lively and attentive group.
On the altar, among the priests, was yet another son of one of the men: Msgr. John Cihac, who had flown back from his post at the Vatican, at Pope Francis’ side, in order to see his father, now Deacon Michael Cihac, be ordained.
“It was moving,” Msgr. Cihac said. “I was proud, very proud. And it’s also meaningful to have that further connection with my father — because as a priest I’m still part of the diaconate.”
A crowd filled the cathedral to witness — and applaud — the ordinations of Michael Raymond Cihac, Larry Alan Loumena and José Arturo Montoya.
They also heard a lesson from Archbishop Alexander Sample, who explained the role of deacons. There are three holy orders in the Church: the episcopacy, the priesthood and the diaconate, the order of holy servers, as was described in the second reading, Acts 6:1-7: “… the Twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.”
The archbishop asked the men to hold the image from the Gospel reading, John 12:24-26: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”
Archbishop Sample asked the three men to hold that image of laying down their lives, dying to themselves so that their ministry can bear the fruit of the Kingdom of God.
“You are being put to the service of the people from whom you’ve been called,” he said.
Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!
Photo: The Catholic Sentinel
And today we celebrate...