Ordination update: 15 new deacons for Los Angeles

 Photo: Victor Aleman

From Angelus, the online edition of The Tidings:

In the days leading up to his ordination to the permanent diaconate, Ryan Adams was reflecting on his relationship with the Holy Spirit — how, in his ministry as a deacon, he “must be a living vessel for the Spirit to not only dwell in, but also a vessel for the Spirit to work through,” serving others in need.

Interviewed by The Tidings after the June 7 ceremony in which he was one of 15 men ordained permanent deacons at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Adams noted with joy that Archbishop José Gomez “was so good” about driving that point home about the Holy Spirit’s presence.

“When he laid hands on me,” said Adams, “that power he talks about is a life-changing experience. That connection and love and relationship with the Holy Spirit that I have, I didn’t know it could be magnified, and it was.”

“Your ministry will change people’s lives,” said the archbishop in his homily. “We need to be a church that changes lives, that makes all things new. We need to be a church of mercy and love, especially for the poor and the wounded.”

Noting that the ordination ceremony was taking place on the vigil of Pentecost, the archbishop invoked the Holy Spirit “in a special way today” to give life and strength and wisdom to those about to be ordained.

The ordination ritual included the deacons’ individual promise of obedience to the archbishop, the “laying on of hands” and sacred prayer of ordination, followed by “investiture with stole and dalmatic,” and presentation of the Book of Gospels with the archbishop’s recitation of the words: “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”

Following Communion, the 14 spouses of the newly-ordained deacons (one of the deacons is single) were called up individually around the altar to be recognized.

“In the midst of other challenges, these women brought many gifts into the formation process and continued to develop those gifts and new ones throughout the five years of formation,” said Jenny Ocegueda-Reynosa, archdiocesan diaconate formation coordinator, who added that many of the women are now ready to serve the church as professional, skilled ministers in areas that include lectoring and bereavement ministry.

Read more and see additional pictures here. 

Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!