Bishop Sheltz: Newly ordained transitional deacons called to be ‘great witnesses of His love in service’
May 28, 2019
Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz (second from left) ordained (left to right): Mark Andrew Hebert, Thuc Huu Nguyen and Eduardo Ivan Rivera, CSB to the Sacred Order of Diaconate at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Saturday, May 18. Photos by James Ramos/Herald.
HOUSTON — The Ordination of Transitional Deacons, held Saturday, May 18 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, brought three men to the next step in their journey to the priesthood.
Mark Andrew Hebert, Thuc Huu Nguyen and Eduardo Ivan Rivera, CSB, were ordained to the Sacred Order of the Diaconate through the imposition of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit by Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz.
In his homily, Bishop Sheltz continually reminded them to always live a life of service to Christ.
“You all have different nationalities but you have all been called by God to be servants in the diaconate and the priesthood,” he said. “And that is a very privileged call that you have been given.”
He assured the three men of his and the congregation’s prayers for them, and said he would ask “the Lord to watch over you, to guide you and to help you be true and great witnesses of His love in the service that you give to the people of God.”
“Never allow yourself to be turned away from holiness, care, from compassion, from love,” Bishop Sheltz said. “Always be there to reach out and lift people up.” Their ordination as transitional deacons is one of their final steps before being ordained to the priesthood.
