Denver Catholic

VOCATIONS I 5 Denver Catholic Register I July 3, 2013 Archbishop Aquila ordains first 'Disciple' in the Americas By Sarah Metts History was made in the Denver Archdiocese when Archbishop Samuel Aquila ordained Deacon Juan Espino to the priesthood at St. Mary Church in Littleton June 22. Father Espino is the first man to be ordained to the priesthood for Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary in the United States. The 25-year-old religious order was founded in Spain. Its particular focus includes family and youth ministry, Catholic education in schools and universities, and formation through spiritual direction and the practice of the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The order was given care of St. Mary's in 2007 by former Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F Cap. .M. Born in Ciudad Juarez, Father Espino grew up in El Paso, studied at Columbia and Harvard universities, and met the Disciples order in 2005 while working in Washington, D.C. He came to St. Mary Parish in August 2011 after spending six years of formation in Madrid. He was ordained a deacon on Dec. 22, 2012, in Cuenca, Spain. Since then he has been working as campus minister for St. Mary Parish and school. Ban Photo Provided Newly ordained Father Juan Espino, D.C.J.M., gives his first priestly blessing to Archbishop Samuel Aquila June 22 at St. Mary Church in Littleton. His call to the priesthood came Catholic Register. "I can't explain from the Diocese of El Paso, Texwhat I saw, but something in me as, and priests serving the Denwhen he was a child. "My family was very active felt called by the Lord to serve ver Archdiocese. Among the 500-plus faithful in the Church when I was still him in this way, to be his instruyoung, and I remember my call- ment for healing and for bring- attending the Mass were Father Espino's widowed father, his ing there … sitting in one of the ing peace to hurting souls." Archbishop Aquila celebrated sister and brothers, and their pews in Cristo Redentor (Christ Redeemer) in Juarez and see- the Mass with Father José Norie- families. Archbishop Aquila began his ing people go through the con- ga, superior general of the Discifessional," he told the Denver ples, and with Disciples priests homily by saying that it was the From Page 1 retirement and military benefits and file joint federal taxes in a state such as Colorado that does not recognize same-sex marriage. Colorado is one of 30 states that have constitutional bans on same-sex marriage. "Now the battle for marriage happens in the states," Kraska said. r Shortly after the ruling on June 24, representatives of gay-rights groups in Colorado said they were building a coalition to repeal the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, Amendment 43, that passed by a 56 percent to 44 percent margin seven yyears ago. t "If people are concerned about the value of marriage they have to get involved in hthe public square," Kraska said. e The groups also could place the issue on -the ballot in 2014 or wait for the 2016 presidential election, which usually brings out more voters. In order to get the issue on a ;statewide ballot, supporters must collect .at least 86,105 signatures—equal to 5 percent of the votes cast in the last election for secretary of state. If lawsuits are filed that directly challenge Colorado's Constitution, the governor will have to decide whether to defend its provisions.  The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of California's voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, known as Proposition 8, because the governor did not defend a lawsuit that challenged the ban. Instead, the court sent the case back to a lower court that ruled in 2010 that the ban was unconstitutional. "It is appalling if our elected officials who have taken an oath to uphold the state constitution do not," Kraska said. More court battles are anticipated in California before a final decision is made there. Because Colorado has a similar samesex marriage ban as California, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers filed a brief in the Proposition 8 case seeking clarity about the ability of state voters to approve same-sex marriage bans. "The Supreme Court did not provide such clarity today," Suthers said in a statement. "We will continue to analyze the opinions and will be prepared to defend Colorado statutes and constitutional provisions in the future." Hickenlooper, a Democrat, faces re-election in 2014 but Suthers, a Republican, is term-limited and cannot run. This issue places even more importance on voter involvement in choosing the state's top leaders, Kraska said. "Never in our history has it been so important to understand that elections have consequences," she said. While it's likely a lawsuit will be filed before the issue goes to the ballot, Kraska said groups pushing for a repeal of Colorado's same-sex marriage ban may do both to cover all avenues available to them. During the last legislative session in Colorado, lawmakers passed a law that allows same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. The civil unions provide some protections similar to marriage, including shared parental rights and medical decision-making, but stop short of full marriage recognition. At the time of the vote, some lawmakers and critics noted that civil unions are just the first step toward legalizing same-sex marriage in Colorado. Lord who had spoken to Father Espino's heart and called him to the priesthood. Referring to the words of the Prophet Isaiah from the first reading, he said, "The oil of gladness is placed upon you instead of a listless spirit—trust in these words." He then told the congregation that Jesus truly desires the happiness of all of his disciples, and that he has modeled the secret to this happiness: to lay down one's life for others, even one's enemies, as Christ did. Archbishop Aquila told Father Espino that he is now called to make a total gift of self. The Rite of Ordination, which followed the homily, included the Promises of the Elect, the Litany of Supplication, the Laying on of Hands and Prayer of Ordination. It ended with the archbishop and all of the priests welcoming Father Espino to their shared ministry with a fraternal hug. At the end of the Mass Father Noriega expressed the gratitude of the Disciples order to Archbishop Aquila. "You will remain in our hearts as the archbishop who ordained the first of the Disciples in the Americas," he said. Turning to Father Espino's father, Enrique, he referred to the man's late wife, saying in Spanish: "Teresa watches over all of us from heaven today." to benefit When: October 4, 2013 Doors open at 6:00pm Program begins at 7:00pm Where: Budweiser Event Center 5290 Arena Circle Loveland, CO 80538 Tickets are on sale NOW! Available tickets levels: ◈ $20.00 for a general seat, tickets will be assigned by seat number in the arena's "bowl" area ◈ $50.00 for a floor seat, behind Gold Circle reserved seats ◈ $150.00 for a ticket to the VIP dinner which includes a Gold Circle front row seat at the event (Spaces are limited) (Dinner will be served at 5:30pm in the Budweiser Events Center restaurant) Contact the box office directly by phone 1-877-544-8499 or online at comcasttix.com to purchase tickets. (Click through on Budweiser Events Center, then select Other Events at BEC) For information on Sponsoring this event contact: Bethany Labbe at 303-651-2050 or events@lifechoices.org

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