On May 31 at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in downtown Dallas, four deacons will be ordained to the priesthood. They are: The Rev. Mr. Kevin Charles Wilwert of Allen, TX, Rev. Mr. Martin Mbugua Mwangi, a native of Kenya, Rev. Mr. Juan Carlos Marín Cortés, a native of Colombia and Rev. Mr. Luca Simbula a native of Sardinia. Deacons Wilwert and Mwangi received their theological formation at St. Mary’s Seminary, Houston. Deacons Marín and Simbula received their theological formation at Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Dallas.

Ordination of new priests is one of the great joys of a bishop and that will be my happy duty when I ordain these four men as priests for the Diocese of Dallas. These young men will, in the words of Pope Francis, “bring the healing power of God’s grace to everyone in need.” The watchwords of their ministry will be mercy and service.

Our Holy Father recently charged newly ordained priests to be merciful and to not grow weary of people’s requests and needs no matter how inconvenient adding that, “the good shepherd enters by the door, and the wounds of the Lord are the door of mercy: if you do not enter into your ministry through the Lord’s wounds, you will not be good priests”.

Post ordination assignments for the ordinands are: Father Marín, parochial vicar, St. Joseph Parish, Richardson; Father Simbula, parochial vicar, St. Rita Parish, Dallas; Father Mwangi, parochial vicar, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Plano; Father Wilwert, parochial vicar, St. Ann Parish, Coppell.

As I recall the words of the Psalmist who wrote “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Ps 118:26), I know that the parishioners in each of these parishes will welcome these new priests and support their ministries through prayer and encouragement.

As always, I salute the parents of the ordinands and express the gratitude of Christ and His Church for the precious gift of their sons. I ask all of you to pray for these men as they begin their priestly ministries. May the Holy Spirit forever guide them, and may God bless them with success and happiness.