Wow: 43 new deacons for Brownsville

Is that a stunning picture, or what?  This appeared on the Diocese of Brownsville Facebook page this afternoon.

Details,from the diocesan website:

The Diocese of Brownsville will welcome 43 new permanent deacons on Saturday, Feb. 3. Bishop Daniel E. Flores will confer the sacrament of ordination at a 1 p.m. Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine. The public is invited to attend the ordination for the largest class of new deacons in the history of the diocese. A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. There are three groups, or “orders,” of ordained ministers in the Church: bishops, presbyters and deacons. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came “to serve and not to be served,” according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Permanent deacons, who can be married, are ministers of the Word, which means they can proclaim the Gospel during Mass and preach and teach in the name of the Church. Their sacramental ministry includes baptizing, conducting prayer services, serving as an official Church witness to marriage and conducting funerals services. Those being ordained and their home parishes: Carlos Aguilar of Sacred Heart Parish, McAllen; José Aguilera, Queen of Peace Parish, Harlingen; Alberto J. Aldana, San Martin de Porres Parish, Weslaco; José Bernal, Christ the King Parish, Brownsville; Henry Camacopa, Holy Spirit Parish, McAllen; Cruz Carlos, St. Luke Parish, Brownsville; David Carreón, Sacred Heart Parish, Elsa; Santos Chapa, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, McAllen; León Díaz, San Martin de Porres Parish, Weslaco; Javier Escobar, San Cristobal Magallanes y Compañeros Parish, Mission; Arturo Escobedo, St. Ignatius Parish, El Ranchito; Félix Félix, San Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin Parish, McAllen; Guadalupe Garcia, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Brownsville; José Javier Garcia, San Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin Parish, McAllen; Romeo Garcia, Jr., Immaculate Conception Parish, Rio Grande City; Rodrigo Garza, Jr., San Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin Parish, McAllen; Brigido Gonzalez, Our Lady of St. John of the Fields Parish, Mission; Juan González, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, McAllen; Gabriel Hernandez, Holy Spirit Parish, McAllen; Jesús Hernández, St. Eugene de Mazenod Parish, Brownsville; Jorge Hinojosa, St. Anne Parish, Peñitas; Julio Ibarra, Holy Family Parish, Brownsville; Víctor Lara, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, McAllen; Noé Longoria, Parish of the Lord of Divine Mercy Parish, Brownsville; Richard Longoria, Holy Spirit Parish, McAllen; Juan Carlos Ortiz, St, Pius X Parish, Weslaco; Benigno Palacios, Queen of Peace Parish, Harlingen; José Peralez, III, Sacred Heart Parish, Edinburg; Rosvel ‘Ross’ Pruneda, Sacred Heart Parish, Escobares; Josué Ramirez, Holy Family Parish, Brownsville; Miguel A. Ramirez, Holy Family Parish, Brownsville; Román Ramos, St. Eugene de Mazenod Parish, Brownsville; Raúl Rangel, Sacred Heart Parish, Edinburg; José Humberto Rios, Our Lady of Refuge Parish, Roma; Francisco Rugama, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Mission; Michael L. Seymour, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Harlingen; Lorenzo Soto, San Martin de Porres Parish, Weslaco; José A. Torres, Sacred Heart Parish, Mercedes; Florencio Treviño, St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Parish, Edcouch; Luis A. Treviño, Holy Spirit Parish, McAllen; Jose G. Vargas, San Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin Parish, McAllen; Miguel Villarreal, Sacred Heart Parish, Escobares and Juan Zamora, Queen of Peace Parish, Harlingen The men, who have completed an extensive, four-year formation program in preparing for this ministry, come from various backgrounds and careers. Among the new class are doctors, business owners, coaches, architects and information technology specialists. With the 43 new deacons, the total number of permanent deacons in active ministry in the diocese stands at 107.

Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!