Last step before priesthood
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With Bishop are Deacon Ramonito Celestial, at left, and Deacon Jorge Farias Saucedo.
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas was joined by more than 40 priests and many deacons and seminarians as he ordained Ramonito Celestial and Jorge Farias Saucedo to the transitional diaconate on Dec. 17 at St. Augustine Cathedral in Tucson.
The new deacons will be ordained as priests on June 2.
A large number of family members and friends attended the nearly two-hour ceremony, which was followed by a reception in the adjacent church hall.
The joyful liturgy included music and singing by the Diocesan Choir, directed by Grace Lohr, with soloist Mary Ann Samson. As a communion meditation, Alex Navas of Our Lady of Fatima Parish sang a hymn he composed on being a servant of the Lord.
“I am blessed by moments of delight,” said Bishop Kicanas in reference to the occasion, adding:
“When we prayed the Litany of the Saints for Jorge and Ramonito and when I imposed hands on them, I could sense the pride and delight felt by all present. We prayed and sang our hearts out in gratitude to God that Ramonito and Jorge had heard God’s call in their lives to serve Him, His Church and us.”
The ordination began with Bishop Kicanas asking, “Do you find these men worthy?” A resounding affirmation was given by Father Ricky Ordoñez, diocesan vocations director, and Father August Belauskas of Mundelein Seminary, and an ovation followed.
The laying on of hands and prayer of consecration was followed by the investiture with the stole and dalmatic.
Bishop Kicanas took the opportunity to call for prayer to encourage more vocations of a life of service to the Church.
“Personal encouragement and invitation go a long way, especially within families and parishes,” he said.
Serving as master of ceremonies were Father Emilio Chapa, Father Abran Tadeo and Father Miguel Mariano.
Contributing to the reception were Father Domenico Pinti and the St. George Parish community, the Two Hearts Filipino Prayer Group of Casa Grande, and the Sacred Heart Filipino Prayer Group of Tucson.