Twelve permanent deacons and two transitional deacons were ordained May 11 at Holy Name Cathedral. Cardinal Cupich celebrated the ordination Mass. The newly ordained deacons are assigned to parishes in Arlington Heights, Burbank, Chicago, Orland Park, Summit and Waukegan. In the Catholic Church, deacons preparing for the priesthood are known as transitional deacons. They are seminarians ordained after their third year of theology studies at Mundelein Seminary and will return for one more year of studies as deacons before ordination to the priesthood in 2025. Those not planning to be ordained priests are called permanent deacons. Married men may be ordained as permanent deacons. Single men who commit to celibacy also may be ordained as permanent deacons. Deacons assist the bishop and his priests in ministries of the word, liturgy and charity. This includes proclaiming the Gospel, leading intercessions, preaching, preparing the altar, celebrating baptisms, leading the faithful in prayer, distributing Communion, witnessing marriages and conducting wake and funeral services. Deacons also identify the needs of the poor and underserved, and shepherd the church’s resources to meet those needs. Diaconate formation for permanent deacons requires completion of a comprehensive, four-year archdiocesan program, offered in both English and Spanish, at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. The programs include human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral dimensions of formation and a year-long parish pastoral ministry internship. The program is mandated by both the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Deacon Eustolio Acosta St. Rita of Cascia Parish, Chicago Deacon Eustolio Acosta was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and has been married to María de Lourdes for 42 years. The couple has a son, 27. Deacon Acosta has worked in industry, doing “a little bit of everything,” including managing a forklift. In his parish, he has been a reader and extraordinary minister of Communion, helped with baptismal preparation and been a member of the Charismatic Renewal prayer group and host of a radio program on the first Sunday of each month. Deacon Juan Chávez Blessed Martyrs of Chimbote Parish, Summit Deacon Juan Chávez, 58, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. He and his wife, Araceli Chávez, have two children, ages 29 and 21. Deacon Chávez has been a contractor in the construction industry for more than 35 years. At his parish, he has served as a catechist and reader. He also is a member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and the Emmaus movement. Deacon Alfredo Cortés Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Chicago Deacon Alfredo Cortés, 45, was born in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, where he lived until he was 15. Upon leaving high school, he immigrated to the United States. The youngest of four children, he worked for 16 years at a metal processing company in Schiller Park, and then took care of his mother for seven years. Leading up to his ordination, Cortés was a sacristan, Mass coordinator and reader. Deacon Víctor de Avila St. Albert the Great, Burbank Deacon Víctor de Avila, 61, was born in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. He and his wife, Blanca Estela de Avila, have two children, ages 35 and 22. Deacon de Avila has been working for 25 years in the same company, starting as a floor clerk and now as a driver. He has ministered as a reader and facilitator of pre-baptismal classes. He and his wife have been catechists in the RCIA program and extraordinary ministers of Communion. They are also part of the parish marriage group, the Guadalupano group and members of the Nocturnal Adoration group. Deacon Mario Javier Delgado St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Chicago Deacon Mario Javier Delgado Villamizar, 62, was born in Venezuela. His wife, Graciela Delgado, was born in Oaxaca, Mexico. As lay missionaries of the Sacred Heart, they served in several countries. Deacon Delgado is a bilingual spiritual director and consultant for Hispanic ministry, social justice, vocations and pastoral formation, and he has been a formator of the lay missionaries of the Sacred Heart. He has been director of the Hispanic justice and peace ministry in the dioceses of Madison, Wisconsin, and Grand Island, Nebraska, director and vocational promoter of the missionaries of the Sacred Heart province of the United States and the Claretian Missionaries province of the United States and Canada. The Delgados continue to be active in their spiritual healing ministry and in their parish in liturgical ministries, continuing formation and religious education. Deacon Richard Duda Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Orland Park Deacon Richard Duda, 56, was born in Chicago. He and his wife, Kimberly Duda, have four children, ranging in age from 17 to 24. Deacon Duda, a lawyer, has served as a lector and extraordinary minister of Communion. He and his wife are involved in the parish’s support of the San Blas Emergency Food Pantry. He also teaches in the religious education program and leads a Communion service on Thursday mornings, and has helped lead the youth ministry’s annual mission trip to Harlan, Kentucky, for the past few years. Deacon Mario Henríquez Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Waukegan Deacon Mario Henríquez, 53, was born in El Salvador. He and his wife, Violeta Henríquez, have two children and a granddaughter. Deacon Henríquez drives a truck for a laboratory. He and his wife have served in various ministries for the past 25 years at Most Blessed Trinity Parish. Deacon Arnoldo Martínez Sts Genevieve and Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr Parish, Chicago Deacon Arnoldo Martínez, 52, was born in Michoacán, Mexico. He and his wife, Blanca Godínez, have a 15-year-old son. Martínez has worked in religious formation and education in several parishes. After the COVID-19 pandemic, he became a heavy vehicle driver. Martínez and Godínez feel called to contribute to the church through liturgical singing, so they have dedicated themselves to evangelizing through the gift of music. Deacon Juan Ortiz Sts. Genevieve and Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr Parish, Chicago Deacon Juan Edgar Ortiz, 56, and his wife Azucena Ortiz are originally from Michoacán, Mexico. Deacon Ortiz came to Chicago at age 15, and he and his wife have three children. Ortiz has his own carpentry business. In their parish, he and his wife are readers, extraordinary ministers of Communion and have served in the ministry of renewal. Deacon Adolfo Ramírez Misión San Juan Diego, Arlington Heights Deacon Adolfo Ramírez Aparicio, 49, was born in Puebla, Mexico. He and his wife, Estela González Cuautle, have three daughters and a son, ranging in age from 13 to 28, and they own a wellness training business. Ramírez and his wife and children are all involved in the parish community. Ramírez currently serves in the marriage ministry, organizing retreats and giving talks to strengthen marriage. Deacon Iván Vargas Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Chicago Deacon Iván Vargas, 38, was born in Michoacán, Mexico. He and his wife, Eliboria Márquez-Vargas, have been married for 17 years. Deacon Vargas has worked in the construction industry for more than 15 years, specializing in painting and remodeling. At his parish, he has served as sacristan and reader, and organized events such as dinners, dances, liturgy and other activities with different apostolic movements. Deacon Rafael Yáñez Immaculate Conception and Five Holy Martyrs Parish, Chicago Deacon Rafael Yáñez Ibarra, 45, was born in Chicago and grew up in Michoacán, Mexico. He and his wife, Leticia Yáñez, have three children. Deacon Yáñez has been a Chicago police officer for more than 20 years. In his parish, he has been involved as a reader, catechist and extraordinary minister of Communion, as well as visiting the sick with his wife. The couple also started a sports and leadership organization to support young people and their families on the Southwest Side. Additionally, he supports police officers and their families when they suffer catastrophic events. Cardinal Cupich ordained the following transitional deacons: Deacon Cristian Enrique García Nuño Mother of the Americas Parish, Chicago Deacon Kevin Michael Menard St. John Cantius Parish, Chicago
Parishes, deacon group rally to ship supplies to hurricane victims On the breezy afternoon of Oct. 13, a caravan of about a dozen cars pulled up to the garages at St. Mary Monastery in Lemont and volunteers piled out and dropped off boxes of diapers, packages of baby wipes and cases of water for the victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
Deacons’ wives support husbands, parishes in many ways In 2019, Pam Carlson sat alone in the front pew of St. Barbara Church in Brookfield to watch her oldest child, Steven, get married.
Archdiocese welcomes new permanent deacons Nineteen permanent deacons were ordained May 13 at Holy Name Cathedral. Cardinal Cupich celebrated the ordination Mass.