The archbishop, at the beginning of the Mass, offered a special prayer to God asking for the future deacons: “May they be tireless in the gift of themselves, steadfast in prayer, joyful and kind in the exercise of their ministry.”
We reproduce the note published by our Communications Office of Mexico (see original publication):
The ceremony was filled with meaningful moments, beginning with the readings. Psalm 23 resonated in the sanctuary: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,” capturing the spirit of service and trust in God that defines the diaconal ministry. The second reading, from Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, urged those present to live with humility and maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you”
In the Gospel of Saint John, Jesus’ words, “Greater love has no one than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” highlighted the sacrifice and dedication that the diaconate demands. After the reading, the ordination rite began with the eight young men approaching the altar, a moment full of emotion and devotion.
Mons. Raúl Gómez, in his homily, thanked God for the opportunity to be present at such a significant moment for the life of the Church and these young people. “These brothers are ripe fruit to receive the sacrament of orders,” affirmed the archbishop, emphasizing the readiness of the new deacons to serve the Church and the people of God.
“Be missionaries of hope”
Addressing the future deacons directly, the archbishop urged them to be “missionaries of merciful love,” and reminded them that, just like Jesus, they must be a reflection of compassion and tenderness: “May their motto be to serve in everything and to everyone in the love of Jesus,” he emphasized. He also asked them to always be available for service, working closely with priests and laity.
The ordination rite continued with the traditional laying on of hands, a symbol of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The young men promised to carry out their ministry with humility and love, remaining faithful to the Gospel and the tradition of the Church.
A lifelong commitment
After the ordination, the new deacons received the diaconal vestments, the stole and the dalmatic, as a visible sign of their new mission in the Church. Upon receiving the Gospel, they heard the words: “Be diligent in believing what you read, teaching what you believe, and living what you teach.” The ceremony concluded with the deacons distributing communion to their family and friends in long lines that filled the Sanctuary.
Before concluding, Father Carlos Gutiérrez, L.C., territorial director of the Legionaries of Christ in Northern Mexico, on behalf of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi, thanked Mons. Raúl Gómez for presiding over the ceremony. He also expressed his gratitude to the families of the new deacons for their unconditional support.
Finally, Father Giovanni Espinoza, L.C., on behalf of the newly ordained, expressed his gratitude to the superiors, formators, spiritual directors, and priests who concelebrated the Mass. With emotion, he wished that their diaconal ministry be a faithful reflection of their dedication to Christ and His Church.
Let us pray to God for these young deacons so that He, with His Fatherly love, may accompany them and fill them with grace to exercise their ministry.
