Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo, LC, with newly ordained deacons Pedro Castañeda (right) and Noel Quezada (left).

June 29, 2009. Although most of the Legionary ordinations to the diaconate took place in Rome this year, some Legionaries were ordained in smaller groups in various cities around the world. Four were ordained in Mexico and Italy toward the end of June.

Guadalajara, Mexico

In Guadalajara on June 20, Pedro Castañera and Noel Quezada were ordained by Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo, LC, bishop of the Prelature of Cancún-Chetumal. The ceremony was carried out in the Expiatory Church of Guadalajara. Legionaries from the communities in Guadalajara, Torreón, Monterrey, and León attended.

During the homily, Bishop Pedro Pablo emphasized the attitude of service to which deacons are especially called.

After the diaconal consecration, His Excellency invited the relatives of the new deacons to come forward to congratulate them.

A Spanish-language video of this diaconal ordination can be viewed on the Regnum Christi web

	Deacon Luca Frontali with his parents and Bishop Claudio Stagni.

site here. 

Faenza, Italy

On June 27, Bishop Claudio Stagni of the diocese of Faenza-Modigliana, ordained Br Luca Frontali, LC, to the diaconate in St Peter’s Cathedral in the city of Faenza. Six Legionary priests and six diocesan priests concelebrated the Mass, which was attended by Legionaries from the communities in Bologna and Rome, as well as by the new deacon’s friends and family members.
  
Mérida, Mexico

Lastly, on June 29, Br Juan Antonio Ruiz was ordained a deacon in the church of Our Lady of Lebanon in the city of Mérida, in the state of Yucatán. Archbishop Emilio Carlos Berlié of the archdiocese of Yucatán celebrated the ordination Mass, which was concelebrated by Bishop Rafael Palma Capetillo, auxiliary bishop, and by Fr Rodolfo Mayagoitia, territorial director of Mexico.

During the homily, Archbishop Berlié commented that the entire Church unites herself to the joy of Deacon Juan Antonio, his family, and the Legion, because now he is a

	The newly ordained Deacon Juan Antonio Ruiz Jorge, LC, with his family, Archbishop Emilio Berlié, auxiliary bishop Rafael Palma, and Fr Rodolfo Mayagoitia, LC.

man who can be sent anywhere in the world to work for Christ.

“We all rejoice at the ordination of Juan Antonio, who must now live out the image of Christ in service to God and others,” he said.

This year, these four men will be part of a group of almost 60 deacons to be ordained to the priesthood in Rome on December 12, 2009 – the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. All are welcome to attend. We also invite all of our readers to keep them and the entire group of deacons in our prayers, especially during this Year for Priests instituted by Pope Benedict XVI.