“Remember the example of Peter, who was chosen not because he was perfect but because he was humble of heart and knew the voice of the Shepherd.”
Bishop Frank J. Caggiano ordained three men to the permanent diaconate on the Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul on June 29, urging them to be living sacraments of self-sacrificing love and follow the example of the “two great Princes of the Apostles, the fisherman and the rabbi.”
St. Augustine Cathedral was filled with family members, friends, men in formation, priests and deacons who gathered for the ordination of Walter Avitabile, Edward Ronaldo Carrillo Castro, and Francisco-Manuel Mantero.
“What a joyful morning it is for us to gather around our three brothers who God in his loving providence and mercy has called to this moment in the journey of their life, supported by the love of their wives, their children and their grandchildren, and all those who have walked with them in this adventure that is your life,” the bishop said. “He has called you into a great mystery to become living sacraments of self-sacrificing love. You’ll now dedicate your life to that in your ministry and every moment of every day that you live.”
He said the diaconate called them to be Servants of the Word, Servants of the Altar, and Servants of Charity.
“You are very well prepared to be bearers of the Good News of salvation, even in the moments of great suffering, of great thought, of great pain,” he said. “You are also servants of charity so you will bring to the altar all that the people of God share with you — their hopes, their dreams, their challenges, their pains. You will be there, interceding for them, praying for them and bringing the Holy Eucharist to them.”
The bishop talked about the life and example of Peter and Paul, one a simple fisherman, the other an educated rabbi.
“Your lives now must be all about Christ, who is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega,” he said. “By doing that, it will free you to love your wives in a whole new way, your children and grandchildren in a whole new way, and God’s people in a whole new way because by giving up everything for Christ, we gain everything back and more. It’s all about Christ, not about you, not about me.”
He said they should have the conviction of St. Peter, “who was stubborn in the best sense of the word but recognized his frailty.”
“Brothers, you have been called to something you are not, nor I,” he said. “You’ll look at yourself in the mirror every day and realize there are a thousand reasons why someone else, perhaps, has better gifts and talents than you. And you’ll always — as I do every morning and evening — confront your own sins as I do mine. So remember the example of Peter, who was chosen not because he was perfect but because he was humble of heart and knew the voice of the Shepherd.”
He also told the candidates to stay close to their hidden strength — “the Great Mother of God, who is our mother as well….If you ever find yourself confused or doubtful or discouraged, turn to her.”
