The deacon candidates responded to several questions by the archbishop indicating their intent to undertake this office: to be consecrated for the church’s ministry by the laying on of hands and the gift of the Holy Spirit, to discharge the office with humble charity in order to assist the priestly order and to benefit the Christian people, to hold fast to the mystery of faith with a clear conscience and proclaim it in the word and deed according to the Gospel and the church’s tradition, to embrace the celibate state forever as a sign of dedication to Christ the Lord for the sake of the kingdom of heaven in the service of God and man, to celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours with and for the people of God and for the whole world, to conform their lives always to the example of Christ, of whose body and blood they are ministers at the altar.

    Afterwards, each one of the elect went to the archbishop, and kneeling before him, placed his joined hands between those of the archbishop. A promise of obedience was elicited, with Archbishop Gomez asking Pereida and Gamez to promise respect and obedience to him and his successors, while Simatende and Montañez promised respect and obedience to the diocesan bishop and their religious superiors.

    The litany of the saints was then sung by the Assumption Seminary Schola Cantorum as the congregation kneeled and prayed that the Lord would hear their prayers and sanctify by God’s blessing those believed worthy to exercise sacred ministries.

    At the laying on of hands and prayer of consecration, one by one the elect knelt in front of the archbishop while he placed his hands on the head of each in silence. Following this the deacons were vested with their stole and dalmatic. Msgr. José Lopez and Father Tony Vilano assisted the newly ordained Deacon Rodriguez, Deacon Edvin Rodriguez assisted the newly ordained Deacon Gamez, Father Freeborn Kibombwe assisted the newly ordained Deacon Simatende and Father Luis R. Aguilar assisted the newly ordained Deacon Montañez.

    Then, vested as a deacon, the newly ordained went to Archbishop Gomez and knelt before him. The archbishop placed the Book of the Gospels in the hands of the newly ordained and said, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.” The prelate then stood and gave a fraternal kiss of peace to the newly ordained. The vested deacons present also gave the fraternal kiss to the newly ordained, welcoming them into the order of deacon.

     A reception was held for the new deacons in the Cathedral Centre following the Mass.