Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

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Priestly ordinations – May 21, 2016

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Priestly ordinations May 21

The Diocese of Dallas is blessed to have four transitional deacons who will be ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Saturday, May 21.

Although the day of ordination to the priesthood marks the end of many long years of preparation, it is really not the end that we celebrate but the beginning of a new priestly ministry, a life of service to Jesus through his Church and His people. Like many of life’s passages, it is both a death and a resurrection, beginning a new life. Our four priestly ordinands are:

Deacon Paul Bechter, a native of Houston, the son of Allan and Patricia Bechter. Deacon Bechter is studying Sacred Scripture in Rome at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and will return to Rome after his ordination to complete his studies effective June 1, 2016

Deacon Emmett Hall, a native of the Dallas area, and the son of Michael and Nancy Hall. Deacon Hall is currently studying Canon Law in Rome at the Gregorian University and will return to Rome after his ordination to continue his studies effective June 1, 2016.

Deacon Ignacio Olvera, a native of Ocampo, Mexico, the son of Juan (deceased) and Maria G. Olvera. Deacon Olvera is completing his studies at St. Mary Seminary in Houston, and after ordination will be assigned as parochial vicar at St.Thomas Aquinas Parish in Dallas, effective, June 15, 2016.

Deacon Daniel Rendon, a native of San Antonio, Texas, the son of Manuel and Maria Rendon, is completing his studies at Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Denver, Colorado, and after ordination will be assigned as parochial vicar at Mary Immaculate Parish in Farmers Branch, effective, June 15, 2016.

Vocations to the priesthood are the result of the prayers of the community and the nurturing environment of Catholic homes. I thank you all for your continuing prayers for vocations and I thank especially the parents of our four ordinands for the gift of their sons.

Please join me in praying that they be blessed with long and fruitful ministries.

Priest anniversaries and June ordinations

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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.

Three Priestly Ordinations

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Climbing Mount Carmel has long been a metaphor for spiritual growth as we journey toward God, so it is very appropriate that our three ordinands to the priesthood will reach that significant milestone in their journey on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Nothing gives a bishop greater joy than ordaining men to the presbyterate, welcoming them as co-workers in the Lord’s Vineyard. The three transitional deacons to be ordained on July 16, Alan Paul McDonald, Arthur Okwuchukwu Unachukwu and James Hideo Yamauchi, have spent years preparing for this moment.

Representative of the true catholicity or universality of the Church, each of the ordinands represents a different culture, Asian, African and European.

Deacon Unachukwu attended Holy Trinity Seminary, Irving, and St. Mary Seminary Houston. Following ordination he will be assigned as parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish in McKinney.

Deacon Yamauchi attended Holy Trinity Seminary and the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Following ordination he will return to Rome where he will continue studies in Canon Law at Gregorian University.

Deacon McDonald attended Redemptoris Mater Misssionary and Diocesan Seminary for Westminster Diocese, London, England and the Redemptoris Mater Missionary and Diocesan Seminary in Dallas, from which he is the first student to be ordained to the priesthood. Following ordination he will serve as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish, Dallas.

Priestly vocations are the result of God’s call nurtured by parents. I especilly want to acknowledge the parents of our ordinands whose love and support have made these happy events possible: Sir Emmanuel and Lady Rose Unachukwu of Nigeria, Brent and Jackie Yamauchi of Sachse, Texas, and Alan and Jean McDonald of England.

Please keep these three ordinands in your prayers as they continue their ascent of Mount Carmel as servant leaders of the Church.