Marian Milestone: Young man with special devotion ordained a priest

By Paul binz

The Valley Catholic

BROWNSVILLE   —   Armed with his rosary and a special Marian devotion, Father Mauricio Rodriguez is the newest priest of the Diocese of Brownsville. Bishop Daniel E. Flores ordained the transitional deacon to the priesthood during a special Mass June 3 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, filled to overflowing for the event.

Called before Bishop Flores following the Liturgy of the Word, the candidate was pronounced worthy for the priesthood by Father Leonel Rodríguez-Bazán, director of vocations for the diocese.

“Según el parecer de quienes lo presentan después de consultar al pueblo Cristiano, doy testimonio de que ha sido considerado digno.”

Bishop Flores then declared, “Con el auxilio de Dios y de Jesucristo, Nuestro Salvador, elegimos a este hermano nuestro para el ordén de los presbíteros.” (“With the help of God and Jesus Christ Our Savior, we choose this brother of ours for the order of the priesthood.”)

Bishop Flores began his homily with thanks.

“We’re grateful to God for his generosity and the grace he has inspired in Mauricio’s heart to present himself not just today, but for many days in preparation for this day. The grace of God works in many mysterious ways, and usually and most effectively, it works through the people around us, since we were very small, and the people who assist us, especially in the Christian example.” He then recognized the Rodriguez family.    

Bishop Flores next addressed the candidate and the faithful on the life of a priest.

After the offertory carried to the sanctuary by the Rodriguez family, Father Rodriguez took his vows.

Born in Matamoros, Jesús Mauricio Rodríguez Chapa moved to Brownsville with his family at the age of 15, graduating from Homer Hanna High School and attending then-University of Texas-Brownsville for three years before changing course to follow his vocation by starting seminary.

Now 29, he is quick to recall how his vocation flowered during college when he began praying the rosary in earnest on a daily basis. This also has led him along a continuing devotion to Our Lady, following the path of her special prayer.

“Our Blessed Mother — she has been truly with me throughout this journey,” he told The Valley Catholic shortly before his ordination. “These past few years, she has helped me tremendously – growing in virtue, in love for the Lord, for the Church, for the people of God. So this has been a great blessing for me.”

Father Rodriguez has even augmented his daily devotion, which he highly recommends.

“I do pray the rosary every day,” he told The Valley Catholic. “And I try to pray four rosaries a day, meditating on all the Mysteries, which makes for a great blessing. And I feel I have received all the extraordinary graces one could hope to receive.”

“I feel this really deep sense of peace that I haven’t felt before.”

At the end of the ordination Mass, Bishop Flores handed Father Rodriguez his faculties and announced his first assignment, San Martin de Porres Parish in Weslaco.