Surrounded by family, friends and the faithful, nine men answered Christ's call to ordained ministry on Saturday as Bishop Jaime Soto ordained them to the Permanent Diaconate during a joyful Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate were Deacons Ramon Arguelles, Arturo Arroyo Jr., Antonio Perez, Luis Gonzalez, Clifford Lubin, Ryan Mahoney, Jason Solano, Juan Bernardo Santana Garcia and Hector Velasco.
Family members, friends, clergy, religious and parishioners gathered from across the Diocese, filling the Cathedral to celebrate this joyful moment in the life of the Church. Representing parishes from throughout the Diocese, the nine men reflected the diversity of the diocese, united in a common call to serve Christ and His people. Throughout their years of formation, they were supported every step of the way by their wives, families and parish communities.
The Gospel proclaimed at the Mass came from St. Matthew, where Jesus reminds His disciples that true greatness is found not in authority or status, but in humble service: "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve." Those words set the tone for the Church's celebration of the diaconate, a vocation rooted in charity, service and the proclamation of the Gospel.
With the men lying prostrate before the altar, the Cathedral joined in the Litany of the Saints, one of the Church's most ancient and beautiful prayers. As the names of the saints were invoked, the faithful prayed that God would bless those about to receive Holy Orders and strengthen them for the ministry entrusted to them.
Through the laying on of hands and the Prayer of Ordination, Bishop Soto invoked the Holy Spirit upon the candidates, who were then vested with the stole and dalmatic, the visible signs of their new ministry. Assisted by their wives and fellow deacons, the newly ordained received the vestments of the diaconate before exchanging the sign of peace with Bishop Soto and the deacons who welcomed them into their fraternity of service.
Before imparting the final blessing, Bishop Soto reflected on the words of St. Paul: "For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus." He encouraged the newly ordained to make those words their own, reminding them that Christ Himself is the treasure that binds the Church together in fraternity and mission.
"He is the one who binds us together," Bishop Soto said. "Strive to know the Lord Jesus in this way so that we may all be one in Christ."
As the Diocese of Sacramento gives thanks for these newly ordained deacons, the faithful are invited to pray for Deacons Ramon Arguelles, Arturo Arroyo Jr., Antonio Perez, Luis Gonzalez, Clifford Lubin, Ryan Mahoney, Jason Solano, Juan Bernardo Santana Garcia and Hector Velasco as they begin their ordained ministry. May their generous "yes" inspire others to listen for God's call and encourage the faithful to continue praying for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life throughout the Diocese of Sacramento.
The Permanent Diaconate is one of the three ordained ministries in the Catholic Church. Permanent deacons assist the bishop and priests of the diocese in ministries of charity, the proclamation of the Gospel and service at the altar. Through their preaching, pastoral ministry and witness of Christian charity, permanent deacons bring Christ's love into parishes, schools, hospitals, prisons and countless other places where the Church accompanies the faithful and those in need.
To learn more about the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Sacramento, including formation and discernment, visit:
www.scd.org/diaconate
To learn more about vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, or to discern God's call in your own life, visit:
www.scd.org/vocations