The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso is blessed to have had over 400 attendees on the evening of February 20th at the Alamo Drafthouse East for the advanced screening of the movie Cabrini. It was such a joyous night celebrating our Diaconate community. Special thanks to our wonderful Deacons: Deacon Jesus Cardenas, Deacon Chato Gonzalez, Deacon Jim Szostek, and Deacon Danny Bejarano, who are always ready to lend a helping hand and share information about the vital work of our Permanent Diaconate to the audience and introduce the movie.

Because of the generosity of our Sponsors, Machelle Vanecek, ClearViewRealty, RMPersonnel, and everyone who attended and made an additional donation, we raised over $20,000 in support of the Permanent Diaconate Fund.

The Permanent Diaconate Program in the Diocese of El Paso was established by Bishop Sidney M. Metzger in 1973 and reconstituted in January 2004 by Bishop Armando X. Ochoa. Formation for the permanent diaconate is a five-year program. It includes a year of discernment and four years of candidacy, which consist of formation seminars, academic courses, annual retreats, and parish assignments. This fund supports the Diocese of El Paso for the spiritual and educational formation of permanent deacons.

In the Catholic Church, the ordained ministry is comprised of three degrees: bishops, priests, and deacons. Deacons preparing for the priesthood are Transitional Deacons. Those not planning to be ordained priests are called Permanent Deacons. The Permanent Deacon is an ordained member of the Church who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders (as does a Bishop and Priest) and is deemed a cleric. As such, he is not a layman. Through their diaconate ministry, they preach the word of God during Mass and other liturgical celebrations, preparing couples for marriage, and even witnessing the sacrament of matrimony, preparing parents and sponsors for the baptism of their children, and performing the sacrament of baptism.

St. Pope John Paul II stated that Permanent Deacons “represent a great and visible sign of the working of the Holy Spirit.” If you would like to the Permanent Diaconate Fund, please visit the Permanent Diaconate Fund page here or call Analisa Cordova Silverstein, Major Gifts Officer at 915-872-8412.