RALEIGH, N.C. — Eleven deacons were ordained in the Diocese of Raleigh June 27. The bilingual Mass took place at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, which opened its doors that morning to the new deacons, their family members and friends and members of the clergy.
The new deacons are Antonio Cordova (St. Thomas More/Chapel Hill), Thomas Aquinas Costello (St. Francis of Assisi/Raleigh), Jon David Henz (UNC Newman Center), Joseph Marco Longo (Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral/Raleigh), Julián Sandoval Ramírez (St. Matthew/Durham), Antonio Enrique Rodriguez (Santa Teresa del Niño Jesus/Beulaville), Jorge Victor Rosende (St. Teresa of Calcutta/Cary), Gary Alan Rourke (All Saints/Hampstead), Joseph Martin Sebik (St. Mary Magdalene/Apex), Matthew Joseph Sullivan (St. Thomas More/Chapel Hill) and Joseph Werner (St. Mary Magdlene/Apex).
They’re what’s commonly known as permanent deacons, which is different from transitional deacons, who are seminarians in formation for the priesthood. This year’s group of permanent deacons, which is known as a cohort, was taught by Diocese of Raleigh priests and others. The last cohort in the Diocese of Raleigh was a group of 15 who were ordained in 2020. The diocese also gains permanent deacons when deacons originally ordained in other parts of the world move to the area, often because of retirement or relocation for work.
The Rite of Ordination to the Diaconate included the presentation of the candidates, election by the bishop, consent of the people, promises of the elect, promise of obedience, litany of supplication, laying on of hands, prayer of ordination and investiture with the stole and dalmatic.
One moment of the rite is the handing on of the book of gospels, during which time each deacon goes to the bishop, kneels before him and receives the Book of Gospels as the bishop says, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”
In his homily, Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama thanked his brother priests and deacons for their attendance. He encouraged the candidates to think of why they were at ordination and engaged in conversation with them.
“What is going on right now in this moment is your experience of that kind of love that you don’t understand,” Bishop Luis said. “It’s an experience of an encounter … a celebration … this is the moment in which you need to be as human as you are.”
The bishop explained that love isn’t something people can handle with their minds or control, but it’s an invitation of freedom to live and celebrate.
“Let that love be part of your daily life. This is what the Lord is inviting you to … you are called today to be ordained,” he continued. “Your first obligation and your first duty is being servants and that sounds a little complicated … you will receive a dalmatic and a stole as the dignity of your office. But are you letting him to vest you in that love? To put on the stole of a deacon, to learn that your office is to become a servant … [and] Jesus is serving you first.”
Before the end of Mass, the bishop thanked the musicians, organizers and hosts, including the cathedral’s rector and pastor, Monsignor David Brockman. He wished good luck to the new deacons, thanked their families and quipped, “If you have complaints, come to me. Okay?” as the congregation laughed. The bishop also noted the ministry of Deacon Felix Saez, Jr., director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate, who worked with the cohort for many years in preparation for ordination day.
Video
Check back soon for NCCN video about ordination day!
Photos
Photos by Greg and Janet Mintel. Click or tap photos to view full images.
