Denver Catholic

6 MARCH 9-22, 2019 | DENVER CATHOLIC A rchbishop Samuel J. Aquila told the newly-ordained dea- cons: "You will be confi gured to Christ, the servant, to serve as he serves, to be those who are called to proclaim the Gospel in the world, to serve at the altar in the preparations of the gifts and to perform works of charity in those you serve". Four transitional deacons were ordained on the cool morning of Satur- day, March 2 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, marking the next step in their journey to the priesthood. The men are: Chris- topher James Considine, Juan Adrián Hernández, Juan Manuel Madrid and Christian James Mast. The archbishop recounted the call- ing of deacons to proclaim the Word of God, serve at the altar and carry out works of charity, focusing his homily on the Gospel reading according to St. John, which was read both in English and Spanish: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (Jn 12: 24). He also highlighted the example of Monsignor Michael Glenn, who served as rector of St. John Vianney Seminary and passed away March 1 after battling a long illness: "He trusted completely in the Lord and gave his life. We are called to the same. That's what it means to die and produce fruit, to surrender to the Father. He was a shining example of what priesthood ministry and diacon- ate ministry is to be about." Regarding the diaconal ministry of proclaiming the Word, Archbishop Aquila gave the deacons a key to help them prepare for their future homi- lies: "You can read all sorts of helpful materials … but if you do not know the love Jesus Christ, if you are not in inti- mate relation with him, if you are not listening to the spirit, your words will be divided because you will be more focused on yourselves than Jesus Christ and proclaiming his word." And he emphasized the meaning of doing God's will the way Jesus did it. "Bear fruit to do the will of the Father. Not seeking his own will, but the will of the Father," he said. "In our ministry, no matter where we serve, we are constantly called to serve Christ and to be with him, to be those who give our lives in obedience to Christ and to the Church, in obedience to the Father, and living in that relationship with him." Archbishop Aquila also spoke to them about the hard times the Church is currently facing: "It is not the fi rst time in history that there has been hos- tility towards the Gospel, that there has been rejection of God.® In every period of history somewhere, some place has been challenged, and in other times, it has been much greater, but we are called to be in the world and not out of the world." He called the promise of celibacy "a sign of contradiction in today's world," and, yet, also a promise that brings "joy and peace," even if that does not mean that "your life will be without temptations." "[Nonetheless], the more you choose the good, the more you will depend on Jesus Christ, and his grace in the spirit that lives in you will strengthen you in the virtue of chastity," he told the deacons. At the end of the Mass, Archbishop Aquila thanked the deacons' parents in English and Spanish, saying, "With- out you, they would not be here." And referred to the newly-ordained dea- cons, telling them, "I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you [and give you] all the virtues to be disciples of Jesus Christ." Around the Archdiocese BY CARMEN ELENA VILLA carmen.villa@archden.org @calenvilla New deacons invited to die to themselves to bear fruit Four men ordained to the transitional diaconate March 2 Independent Living Assisted Living 2835 West 32nd Avenue | Denver, Colorado | 720.909.3814 homeishere.org The Gardens at St. Elizabeth From a planned new pub, to newly renovated apartments – join us for a sneak peak and a special preview of our new model apartments. Saturday, March 16 11am - 2pm Call for reservations at 720.909.3814. Hurry! Limited availability of remodeled independent living units. Call today for current specials. Dad's here, because it's all here.

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