“The Lord is with me”: The trials of Deacon Francisco Hernández

From the In My Backyard Desk, a story of a vocation that has been tested, and tested, and tested. Meet Brooklyn’s newest permanent deacon.

From The Brooklyn Tablet: 

Fully aware that being a disciple of Christ means embracing the cross, Francisco Hernández stood before Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros and bound himself to Church service as a permanent deacon.

The Rite of Ordination of a Deacon took place June 21 during a Mass in Spanish at Immaculate Conception Church, Astoria.

“He was called by Jesus personally,” the bishop said of the ordinand.

The path to his diaconate was anything but simple.

Hernández started his diaconate training in 2008, with the full support of his wife, Juana Mitre.

The two had been active volunteers in their parish community in their native Puebla, Mexico, and continued their ministry when they moved to St. Patrick’s parish, L.I.C.

Therefore, when Francisco told his wife that he felt God was calling him to diaconate service, she invested herself in his new venture.

“She was my tutor,” Francisco said. “Before I presented my homework to my teacher, I first had to present it to her.”

Diaconate classes were open to both the candidates and their wives, and participation was encouraged from both.

“They always invited us in pairs,” Francisco said. “She took tests right alongside me and did better!”

Despite his strong start, Francisco nearly quit the program during his first year when he received the devastating news from Mexico that his father had died. He was distraught. He wanted to go back home and bury his father. He even bought an airplane ticket. However, he ultimately decided the price to go was too steep.

He was in the middle of getting his legal paperwork in order. Therefore if he were to leave, he would not be able to return, meaning he would not only have to discontinue his diaconate training, but he would also have to leave his wife and daughters. He could not abandon them, so he stayed. He could not be present for his mother, who had taken care of his father for nearly 20 years following a brain stroke.

During his second year of training, his mother died. He still could not go back to Mexico.

During his third year of training, his wife suffered a sudden brain stroke that put her in a coma.

The doctors braced the family for the worst-case scenario: Their wife and mother may live the rest of her days in a vegetative state. The damage to her brain was severe.

Just as the family was adjusting to their new reality, they received Juana’s GED certificate in the mail. She passed her exams.

For six months, the family visited Juana in a rehabilitation facility, coming home late at night and leaving again early in the morning. The strain became too great, and the decision was made to bring her home.

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Congratulations, brother.  Know that you are in many prayers. Ad multos annos!