In the “whatever” society in which we live we are reminded of the value and importance of commitment by our priests who are celebrating anniversaries of their commitment to faithful service to Christ and his Church. At their ordination each promised to consecrate himself to God for the salvation of all. Their ministries are seldom celebrated in the media but their faithfulness and devotion to Christ and His Church is recognized and admired by the thousands of people whose lives they touch through sacramental service, preaching and pastoral ministry.
We honor them and ask God’s continued blessing on their ministries.
These faithful witnesses to the Gospel will soon be joined by two young men whom I will ordain to the service of Christ and his Church at the cathedral on June 1. They are Deacon Jorge Ivan Ascencio Micheli who will serve as parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Frisco, and Deacon Charles Mwaniki Githinji who will serve as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dallas.
Deacon Githinji is a native of Kenya where he grew up. A visit to friends in Dallas was responsible for his decision to serve in the Diocese of Dallas. Deacon Micheli, a native of Puerto Rico, grew up in Puerto Rico and began his seminary training there. After a 2008 visit to Dallas he applied and was accepted as a serminarian for the diocese. Both men completed their theological studies at St. Mary Seminary in Houston and will be ordained for the Diocese of Dallas. We pray that they be blessed with long and fruitful ministries.
Nothing gives greater joy to a bishop than ordaining priests to share his labors in Jesus’ vineyard. I give thanks to God for the large number of seminarians preparing for ordination for our diocese at St. Mary, Holy Trinity and Redemptoris Mater seminaries.
Please pray for your priests and for their lives of faithful service and for the ordinands who will join them June 1.
This post is also available in/Esta entrada también está disponible en: Spanish