Ordinations of Permanent Deacons 2021

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
June 12, 2021

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, ¹

As I was saying, this is a day of great joy for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles! And I know it is a beautiful day for all of you who are going to be ordained, your wives, your families, and your parishes. 

Today, by the imposition of the bishops’ hands, our brothers will be consecrated to the ministry of the Word of God and the ministry of charity — in the service of the whole people of God.

The diaconate is a formal sacred office of apostolic origin. It’s strengthened by sacramental grace, the second Vatican Council says: “They are dedicated to the people of God, in unity with the bishop and his body of priests in the service of the liturgy of the Gospel and of works of charity.”

So my brothers, you were born for this moment, my brothers. That’s the meaning of that first reading we heard today.

Like the prophet, you have been chosen. Our Lord is speaking to each of you, personally today: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you.”

This is the mystery of election, the mystery of vocation. Before you were born, God knew you and he loved you and he wanted you for this service.

You are called today, as the prophet was called, to speak the Word of God, to serve his family of earth.

And as the prophet was called in his moment in the history of salvation, you are called in yours. You are being ordained at the end of pandemic, so you are part of the ‘pandemic deacons.’ You are ordained in this moment when our Church is emerging from a time of isolation and disruption.

In these moments after the pandemic, your unique positions as deacons will give you an important role to play in helping people return to life after this time of sickness and death.
 
In the Gospel today, Jesus gives you “two words” to proclaim in your ministry.

He tells you: “ First say, ‘Peace to this household.’”

This is the great message we must bring in this moment, my brothers. The peace of Christ.

After this long trial of sorrow and loneliness, insecurity, and fear, we need to say to everyone: “Peace!” Christ is with you! God’s love is true!

We need to bring this word of peace to every family, to every household in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles!

Then our Lord gives you another “word” today to guide you in your ministry. He tells you: “Say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

As his deacons, our Lord is sending you out to be messengers of hope.

He is sending you out to proclaim the good — that the world is still the object of his love — his loving care and his plan of salvation in Christ Jesus!

And my dear brothers and sisters, our mission in the Church in this moment is to bring that peace and hope to everyone, especially to bring our people back — to welcome them back to church to reach out to them with the loving arms of our parish communities.

As we know, the parish is where the kingdom is made real in the celebration of the Eucharist. We need to lead a Eucharistic renewal in our parishes. Especially after having our churches shut down and our access to the Mass and the Eucharist restricted in the past year.

The Eucharist, as we know, is the great mystery of our faith. The great gift of God that he gives us in the Body and Blood of Christ, made present in the bread and wine we offer on the altar in the holy Mass.

So my brothers, I pray that in your ministry you will make a special intention to draw our  people to the Eucharist, to awaken in them always invite our people to be near to Jesus in his real presence and to live by the bread that he gives us.

You have been called to a great and noble vocation! My prayer for you is that you stay close to Jesus, that you love him more deeply and imitate him in his humble service to our people.

And as I was saying before, you are ordained on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. So stay close to Mary, our Blessed Mother, the humble handmaid of the Lord.

May she watch over you and teach you to always follow the Word of her Son and to do his will with joy!

And my dear brothers and sisters, let us all pray for our brothers ordained today, and for all our deacons, that they continue their generous service to the people of God in the Archdiocese.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

1. Readings: Jer. 1:4-9; Acts 6:1-7; Luke 10:1-9.