On 25 October, one day after his solemn profession, our brother David was ordained deacon by Most Rev. Walter Heras Segarra, OFM, Bishop of the Diocese of Loja.
In his homily, Bishop Walter said to David: “Ask Jesus to make you a faithful minister, a simple minister, a minister according to your founding father, Saint Joseph Calasanz. With closeness to children and young people, with kindness of treatment. But above all, seeking the good that must always be done to others.”
He also invited him, beyond being a humble and close servant, “to embrace others, to treat others well. Within Piarist spirituality there is that closeness, that lifting up of children and young people within education. An affective education, expressed in affection and love for others—this should be your ministry. Always with that affection for others, with good treatment, as the Lord Jesus Christ asks of us.”
During the rite of diaconal ordination, David was vested with the stole by Fr Diego Bernal Hadad, Superior of the community of Pereira, and with the dalmatic by his parents and his godmother, who have always accompanied and supported him throughout this Piarist formation process.
The Loja–Saraguro community took care of every detail of such a special day for our Province and for the Order. In fact, the Father General, Carles Gil i Saguer, sent heartfelt words of encouragement and recognition which were read by the Provincial Superior before the end of the Eucharistic celebration. We highlight the following:
“You will always be a deacon, because service is not just a moment on the journey, but a way of life, a way of following Christ who washes the feet of his disciples precisely at the Last Supper, so that we may remember it in every Eucharist. That attitude of service lies at the heart of our Calasanctian charism. Calasanz wanted Piarists to be humble educator-servants, men who bend down before the little ones to help them grow in faith, wisdom and dignity. The beautiful Province of Nazareth awaits you, where so many children, so many young people and families, await your presence and your dedication; and your service as a Piarist and as a deacon will fill your life with meaning and joy.”
May David’s diaconal ministry be an inspiration and a seed of more vocations to Piarist religious life, encouraging many young people to say “yes” to Jesus, following in the footsteps of Saint Joseph Calasanz.
Fr Andrés Valencia Henao, Sch.P.
