Three men — Myron Randolph Benavides, Jack Nichols and James (Jim) Stenstrom — were ordained to the permanent diaconate by Archbishop José H. Gomez during a Mass of ordination Aug. 10 at San Fernando Cathedral. An article and photos from the liturgy will appear in the Aug. 28 edition of Today’s Catholic newspaper. Deacon Benavides will minister at St. Philip of Jesus Church in San Antonio, Deacon Nichols will serve at St. Luke Church in San Antonio and Deacon Stenstrom will continue his work at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Boerne.
Myron Randolph Benavides
Myron Randolph Benavides is from St. Philip of Jesus Church. He was born on Dec. 12, 1960, to Robert J. and Mary Lou Benavides, and is the youngest of five children. He attended St. Philip of Jesus School from K-5 through eighth grade and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1979. He attended San Antonio College and worked at the San Antonio Express-News for 23 years. He is now employed with Wal-Mart, and recently celebrated his ninth anniversary with the company.
He is married to Sarah Torres, and they have four daughters: Adrianna, Jacqueline, Victoria and Isabella Benavides. He and his family are all very active with their parish, St. Philip of Jesus. He currently serves as a lector, extraordinary minister of Communion, Grand Knight for Knights of Columbus Council 8769, a teacher for RCIA and first Communion and is the Parent Teacher Council vice president for St. Philip of Jesus School, where his children attend classes.
He credits the late Deacon GT Zapata for his encouragement and recommendation for becoming a deacon.
Jack Nichols
Jackey Don (Jack) Nichols and his wife Dorothy (Dottie) MacElderry Nichols have five children: Jack Brandon Nichols, Jeff Breagan Nichols, John David Nichols, Daniel Sherrard Nichols, Marisa Lynn Nichols and Lauren Michelle Nichols.
Nichols was raised in Mesquite where he graduated from North Mesquite High School and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1972. In 1981, he graduated from Southwest Texas State University.
Nichols retired in 1996 as a meteorologist and began his studies at St Mary’s University School of Law. Dottie Nichols is also retired from the Air Force and currently a business consultant. He began his practice of law in 1999 and has worked in both the private and government sectors in Texas and New Jersey. While in New Jersey, Nichols entered the diaconate program in the Camden Diocese. He is currently a staff attorney at Headquarters, U.S. Army Medical Command at Fort Sam Houston. A member of the Knights of Columbus for 25 years, Nichols is a Fourth Degree Knight. At St. Luke Church, he has worked in ministries including baptism, marriage convalidation, funerals and rosaries.
James (Jim) Stenstrom
James (Jim) Michael Stenstrom and his wife, Elizabeth (Beth) Lee Hudson Stenstrom are the parents of two children, Margaret Elizabeth Schlesinger and Crystal Kierum, along with two granddaughters, Alia Kierum, 6, and Kaelin Kierum, 4.
Jim Stenstrom was born March 28, 1949, in Macon, Ga. He grew up as an “Army Brat,” consequently getting to reside in various places around the world.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Cameron State University in Oklahoma, with a double major in mathematics and history, specializing in the American West. Immediately upon receiving his officer’s commission and attendance at Field Artillery Officer’s Basic Course, he served in Vietnam as an Infantry Platoon Leader. Following a military career of more than 23 years and after earning his master’s degree in business administration from Boston University, he retired as a lieutenant colonel and moved to Fair Oaks Ranch.
He is currently the president/CEO for “About Boerne’s Children,” a non-profit corporation he helped form, which benefits “latch key children” through school and summer programs.
The Stenstroms are active in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Boerne, where Jim has served as an ACTS retreat and spiritual director. He serves as lector, a Bible studies instructor, member of the RCIA staff and coordinates the extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist for the pastor. In addition, he is a Benedictine Oblate associated with the Benedictine Monastery in Boerne, serving in the Omega Retreat Center kitchen and on the programs committee.
His ministry encompasses efforts with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word as he serves as a planner for missionary efforts in Zambia, Peru and Guatemala. The Stenstroms are avocational archeologists in their spare time, and are active in the Texas Archeological Society, the South Texas Archeology Association and the Hill Country Archeology Association.