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Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone will ordain nine men to the permanent diaconate Aug. 15 at St.Pius Church in Redwood City. Each of the men has completed a five-year formation and education program on much of which they have been accompanied by their wives. In observance of COVID-19 protocols, the event is ticketed and by invitation only. (Photos by Dennis Callahan/Catholic San Francisco)
Bob Andrews, 68
Married to Lisa; children Kirk and daughter-in-law Victoria, and daughter Jeffrey-Marie and son-in-law Matthew, Church of the Nativity, Menlo Park
Over the years, Lisa and I have been active in parish ministry. For the past 18 years through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, I have led prayer services at the county jail in Redwood City. I have long envisioned that I would do something to serve the Lord once my working career ended. A deacon is a minister of service and of God’s word. As a deacon, I can minister to others with the life-giving balm of the Gospel, and I will also be able to assist at holy Mass, weddings, baptisms, and funerals. This is an enormous grace and privilege. I am humbled by the call and eager to serve.
Jose G. Hernandez, 53Married to Lucia Vicente De Hernandez, St. Raphael Church
Looking back, I realize how the Lord has transformed my life as well as the lives of my beloved wife, Lucia, and three children. Lucia and I lived together for 24 years without being married. In 2011, we decided to get married in the Catholic Church. Lucia has been a great supporter throughout this journey as have my daughter and two sons. I am also thankful for the support of my parish, my local community and my friends. The call that the Lord has made to me through Msgr. Romulo Vergara is being fulfilled. I did not choose this path; however, the Lord has chosen it for me, and I will respond to that call with love, respect, obedience and as the humble servant that God wants me to be.
David Bernstein, 58Married to Beth Bernstein; children Jacob 27, Sam 23, St. Raphael Church
As for my formal journey to the diaconate, it began in 2013 as a result of an accident on the Golden Gate Bridge that had brought traffic to a crawl on my commute home to Marin. While inching northbound along Van Ness Avenue, I somehow recalled recent notices in our church bulletin regarding an informational session on the diaconate being held that very night at St. Mary’s Cathedral, just blocks away. Within minutes, I was learning about the diaconate in our archdiocese. As you might imagine, I’ve learned to find comfort in God’s loving plan for me and to be honest and true to his plan which continues to bring me joy and happiness.
Emilio Valencia Lucero Jr., 66Married to Marie Ancilla S. Calalang; children Donnaciel, Marie C. Lucero, Francis Anthony C. Lucero, Florence Carmen and Tim Castillo, St. Andrew Parish
In 1972, I was accepted as a government scholar in the Philippine Military Academy and graduated in 1976. As an idealistic newly commissioned officer I took advanced military courses and law graduating in 1984. Chilla and I decided to migrate to the U.S. The move was never easy, but through prayers and trust in God’s providence we persevered. We have been privileged to serve with charismatic prayer groups and communities in the archdiocese thru the Filipino Catholic Charismatic Communities and the Catholic Renewal Board. Currently, we serve our parish community of St Andrew. I am blessed to have been accepted in the diaconate formation program.
Richard Olivares Dizon, 57,Married to Jennifer Dizon, St. Mark Parish
I credit my wife with reawakening me to the faith. I remember being deeply moved watching the funeral of St. John Paul II and began attending daily Mass and serving in parish ministries. When my dad became sick, Deacon Rollie Bonggat was so helpful to our family that I began considering the diaconate. Through the example of Deacon Jerry Quinn from St. Mark’s I continued discerning my call. With guidance from our pastor at the time, Holy Ghost Father Al Furtado, and prayer, we entered the formation program. I am eternally grateful to God, my wife, family, classmates, professors and formation and spiritual directors for their support and prayers.
Daniel Kaatz, 51Married to Lupe Gil, Notre Dame des Victoires Parish
My story up to this moment has been one of mercy and grace. AA introduced me to a spiritual way of life that returned me to our Catholic faith. My sister, Melody, showed me the path to holy Scripture. God has called my name through these life experiences; therefore, I am humbly and gratefully here right now. I arrived in San Francisco to discern religious life with the Franciscan Friars at St. Boniface Church. It was there that I met Lupe. She is now my wife. We believe that God brought us together because we were both seeking him. He is the author of our/his story.
John Hurst, 61Married to Diane; child Marianne, St. Gabriel Parish
My parents were my first teachers of the faith and sacrificed to send me to Catholic schools. After three years in the St. Ignatius Institute at the University of San Francisco I went to work at PG&E where I still work today. I finished my undergraduate degree at Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley and a graduate degree in theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. The most important aspect of my life was meeting and marrying my wife Diane. She is the most generous, loving person I’ve ever met. I’m privileged to be her husband. We adopted our daughter Marianne from China in 2000. After my wife and daughter, the diaconate program has been the greatest blessing of my life.
Albert S. Nimri, 62Married to Abla F. Nimri; children Daniel 30 and Gino 23, St. Thomas More Parish
My wife Abla and I married in 1987. Abla and I are both cradle Catholics. Discerning a call to the ordained ministry may have begun on a Sunday morning during Mass just after Communion, A deacon candidate in his second year of the formation program spoke about the need for deacons. Although I was sitting in the back of the church, I felt as if the announcer was talking to me personally. I am always reminded by the words of our Lord (John 15:16). You didn’t choose me, but I chose you. It is a great blessing to be called a servant and a worker of God.
Raymond ‘Ray’ Smith, 65Married to Ofelia Delgadillo Smith; children Brandon and Devany, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Redwood City
I grew up in a Christian family attending Protestant services. I fell in love with the Catholic church through my wife, Ofelia, when we married in 1981. She was my RCIA sponsor. I was received in the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil in 1995. I am committed to doing whatever is pleasing to God, to serve him and to help others. I am deeply indebted to all who have helped me: God, my wife, all the professors at the seminary, the priests and deacons in our church, and all my brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope that in some small way I can pay back your kindnesses by serving the Lord and spreading his word and joy.
Rite adapted in light of COVID-19
Laura Bertone, director of worship for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, explains how the ordination rite has been adapted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Normally at an ordination, after the primary bishop has laid hands on the candidate, every other clergy member who is in the same rank of clergy gets an opportunity to lay hands on the ordinand. This also happens at the sign of peace after the bishop, then all of the same rank. This means deacons lay hands on deacons, priests on priests and bishops on bishops. Given the pandemic, this year only Archbishop Cordileone will lay hands on the ordinand and exchange with them the sign of peace and no one else. This will also be true for the ordination of priests on Aug. 1.
One thing that will remain as in the past is the vesting: Each ordinand chooses either a priest or another permanent deacon to help him put on his stole and dalmatic for the first time immediately following being ordained. The wives of the men assist with this process. This is usually a nice time for the men to take a breath after having been ordained and it is a special moment between him and the clergy member he has chosen often his pastor and/or mentor.
All nine of our men are married this time. Usually we have one or two single men in the group and they take an additional vow of chastity, but this year we will not have that vow.
At every ordination, the ordinand is presented with the tools of his trade as I call it. The deacons will each be handed the Book of the Gospels and reminded to “believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”
As proclaimers of the Gospel, this is a wonderful prayer! When priests are ordained, they are handed their paten and chalice which they use for Eucharist, and bishops when ordained to the episcopate are given the miter and crozier.