New servant of the Lord ordained

By PAUL BINZ

The Valley Catholic

BROWNSVILLE —  Bishop Daniel E. Flores ordained seminarian Mauricio Rodriguez to the transitional diaconate May 21 at St. Luke Catholic Church.

After this crucial step before ordination to the priesthood, Deacon Rodriguez, 28, now enters his final year of seminary at St. Mary’s in Houston.

In a church nearly full of family, friends, seminarians, clergy and well-wishers, Rodriguez was recognized, called forth and declared worthy to enter the service of the Church as a deacon.

Bishop Flores began his homily with gratitude, and then spoke at length of a special kind of service.

“… Gracias. Porque es un señal de su deseo de servir al Señor.” (“Thank you. It’s a signal of your desire to serve the Lord.”)

“What kind of servants are we? It’s good to reflect on this on the day of an ordination of a deacon … and on what is the Church’s mission. We are servants, but of a particular kind. The diaconate is being conformed to this particular kind of service. What kind? We have to be servants who know the reasons why the Father sent us the Son. …”

“In reality, it’s to hear the words of Jesus, and watch his example to understand the things of the Father.

“I would just use the phrase that summarizes it the best: ‘So much did God love the world … that he sent his Son not to condemn the world, but to save it.’”

Bishop Flores concluded by reminding of the importance of listening – a tenet of the Synodal process now under way, and a theme to which Pope Francis and he often turn.

“We listen to the wisdom of the faithful because God manifests amongst the simple things that the learned often miss, and because it enriches our ability to serve them. … The servant thing is essential all the way through: Service – to listen. Service –  the poor. Service –  the altar. So may God continue to bless all those who seek to aspire to be servants of the Lord …”

After the homily, Bishop Flores seated himself in a curule chair, a symbol of his office, and Rodriguez took his vows. After receiving his deacon’s stole and dalmatic, the new deacon then assisted Bishop Flores as he resumed celebrating the special Mass of ordination.

Near the end, Bishop Flores presented Deacon Rodriguez with his faculties, saying that “means he can preach in this diocese, and officiate in other ways that are particular to the diaconal office …”

As a final blessing, Bishop Flores prayed, “May God who has called you to service of others in his Church give you great zeal for all, especially the afflicted and the poor. Amen. May he who has entrusted you with preaching the Gospel of Christ help you as you live according to his word to be a sincere and fervent witness. Amen.

“May He who has appointed you as steward of his mysteries make you an imitator of his Son Jesus Christ and a minister of unity and peace in the world. Amen.”