On May 15, 2021, in Mexico City, a historic Mass was celebrated with the ordination of a deacon and four priests during the pandemic.

The celebration took place at the Parish of San Agustín, Mexico City, following the required health protocols, and was presided over by Mons. José Antonio Fernández, Archbishop of Tlalnepantla, and concelebrated by Fr. Alberto Simán, LC, Territorial Director for Mexico and Central America of the Legionaries of Christ, accompanied by some Legionary priests, consecrated laity, Consecrated Women of the Regnum Christi, and some family members.

Today, priests are being ordained marked by the suffering of a society in pandemic: “This pandemic has transformed me into someone more sensitive to suffering, to people’s loneliness. We must be more willing to be close and listen to others. What we have lived through has humanized us more as a society and as priests,” expressed Fr. César Fernández, LC, one day before his ordination.

After the Liturgy of the Word, Fr. Alberto Simán, LC, presented the candidates for the diaconate and priesthood to the Archbishop, stating that, according to the Church’s judgment, they are worthy of ordination. The ordinands are César Fernández Xicoténcatl, LC, from the state of Hidalgo; Pablo Vivanco de Esesarte, LC, from Mexico City; Daniel Preciado Valtierra, LC, from the city of Xalapa; Diego Trillas Díaz, LC, from Mexico City; and José Alfredo Rodríguez Mendiola, LC, ordained deacon, originally from Irapuato.

Mons. José Antonio addressed the young ordinands to ask them to be priests dedicated to prayer, just as Jesus Christ maintained an intimate dialogue with his Father and taught his disciples how to pray.

He asked them to be, especially, agents of unity and communion in the face of a divided and polarized humanity amid a crisis of insecurity, economic, social, and unemployment issues that have worsened due to the pandemic. He urged them to bring hope, unity, and to work especially for the most needy: “It is urgent that pastors, you, us, have closeness with our people, with so many brothers who have suffered, suffer, and need comfort and solidarity. It is urgent to continue promoting communion with a clear awareness of daily life, building the family of God with the fraternity to which Jesus Christ invites us.”

He highlighted the gratitude they should have towards their parents, family members, friends, formators, and all those who have helped them discover their vocation in service.

At the end of the celebration, Fr. Alberto Simán, LC, thanked Mons. José Antonio Fernández for the ordination, and expressed gratitude to the parents of the ordinands for their support, as it is not easy to leave a child; he also thanked the priests who have carried their cross day by day. To the attendees, he expressed that the gift of the priesthood is for them, and asked them to keep praying for priests so that they remain faithful until death.

For the new priest Daniel Anselmo, this pandemic and the controversial issues that have arisen in the Church have changed the way of evangelizing: “I believe that now we must evangelize in a more testimonial way, to help and serve in silence with many acts of charity, closeness, and listening to people.”