Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo, LC, gives the Gospels to newly ordained Deacon Santiago Garza, LC.

Monterrey, Mexico. June 21, 2011. Two diaconal ordination ceremonies were held recently in Monterrey and Mexico City, with five Legionaries receiving the first level of Holy Orders. A total of close to 50 men will be ordained to the diaconate around the world this summer, with the largest group receiving the sacrament in Rome on July 2nd.

This past June 19, Santiago Garza Sáenz, LC, was ordained to the diaconate in a Mass held at the Legion’s novitiate in Monterrey, Mexico. The ordaining bishop was Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo, LC, a Legionary bishop who heads up the Cancun-Chetumal prelature.
 
In his homily, Bishop Pedro Pablo spoke about the sublimity of the gift of the diaconate: “I invite you to consider the sublimity of the gift you are about to receive. In a few minutes, you will be made a servant of Christ and of the holy Church of God. This mystery, which is a wonderful exchange between God and man, will be carried out in you.”
 
At the end of his homily, the bishop invited him to entrust himself to the Blessed Virgin so that she might intercede for him and obtain all the graces he needs

	The four Legionaries of Christ during the diaconal ordination ceremony in Mexico City.

for the service of the diaconate.
 
Also concelebrating were Fr Emilio Díaz, the territorial director for Monterrey, and various Legionary priests who work in the area.
 
Deacon Santiago Garza Sáenz, LC, was born in the city of Santiago in the state of Nuevo León. He joined the Legion in 1998 and is currently working at the apostolic school in León, Guanajuato.

Ordination in Mexico City

On June 22, the eve of Corpus Christi, four Legionaries were ordained to the diaconate in the Anáhuac University chapel in northern Mexico City. Deacons Gabriel  Abascal, Julio César Chaparro, Joel Herrera, and Salvador Ruelas, were ordained by Bishop Marcelino Hernández, of Orizaba, Veracruz.

Also concelebrating at the Mass were Fr Rodolfo Mayagoitia, LC, territorial director for Mexico City and Fr Francisco Mateos, LC. general councilor of the Legionaries of Christ, along with 35 other priests.

In his homily, Bishop Marcelino recalled his own beginnings in the minor seminary and his enthusiasm for his ministry as a deacon, and then mentioned the important liturgical feasts on which the ordinations were held. Then he reminded the deacons of their responsibility to live in charity and service to God and men.

These five men, along with nearly 50 others, will be ordained to the priesthood on December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.