The night before my Ordination, as I prepared for bed, I felt a profound sense of peace, fully aware of the significance of the coming day. The following morning, I awoke with that same deep peace, sensing the Lord’s close presence. I understood this as a call from the Lord to deepen my relationship with Him.

During our Diaconate retreat in Ellicott City, our retreat director, John Koziol, gave us texts to read that resonated with many points from the homily of Bishop Gary Janak, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. One key point was understanding the diaconate as the foundation for the priesthood, emphasizing that diakonia continues beyond ordination. In both roles, we serve the Lord and the People of God, conforming to Jesus by serving with love, “service, sacrifice, and humility” (Bishop Gary’s homily, April 6, 2024). The phrases “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach” particularly stood out to me, as they echoed the reflections from our Diaconal retreat. When Bishop Gary spoke about “diaconal conscience” and the theology of subtraction, it reminded me of our retreat discussions on diakonia as the foundation of the priesthood.

The powerful and joyful encounter I experienced with the Holy Spirit when Bishop Gary laid hands on me deeply signified His cercanía (proximity) and love. It was a reminder to live out this love by being “radically conformed to Christ the Servant,” serving as a sacramental sign of the grace of Christ’s presence and love to the world, as emphasized in Bishop Gary’s homily on April 6th, 2024.
Being open to and allowing the grace of God to transform me is part of the theology of subtraction that Bishop Gary discussed. This theology emphasizes that God’s presence must increase within me. By maintaining a constant personal dialogue with the Lord, His presence is continually nurtured and grows stronger in my life.