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Chicago, (May 7, 2024) – Twelve permanent and two transitional Catholic deacons will be ordained at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St., Chicago. Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, will be the main celebrant at the ordination and will offer the homily. The newly ordained deacons will be assigned to parishes in Argo, Arlington Heights, Burbank, Chicago, Orland Park, Summit and Waukegan.

The ordination will be livestreamed on the archdiocese’s YouTube channel Catholic Chicago: https://youtube.com/live/FXzeKFMD8ZA?feature=share.

“Deacons enrich the life of the Church and their communities through their selfless and humble service, unique perspective and skill set and invaluable support to priests,” said Cardinal Cupich. “Called to imitate Jesus, deacons along with their wives, if married, create more vibrant and active parish communities and serve as powerful examples of living out the Gospel message.”

In the Catholic Church, deacons preparing for the priesthood are known as transitional deacons. They are seminarians ordained after their third year of theology studies at Mundelein Seminary and will return for one more year of studies as deacons before ordination to the priesthood in 2024. Those not planning to be ordained priests are called permanent deacons. Married men may be ordained as permanent deacons. Single men who commit to celibacy may be ordained as permanent deacons.

The newly ordained deacons will assist the bishop and his priests in ministries of the Word, Liturgy and Charity. These include proclaiming the Gospel, leading intercessions, preaching, preparing the altar, celebrating baptisms, leading the faithful in prayer, distributing holy communion, witnessing marriages, and conducting wake and funeral services. Deacons also identify the needs of the poor and underserved, and shepherd the Church's resources to meet them. 

Diaconate formation for permanent deacons requires completion of a comprehensive, four-year archdiocesan program (offered in both English and Spanish) at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. The programs include human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral dimensions of formation and a year-long parish pastoral ministry internship. The program is mandated by both the Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  

Please see below for the list of this year’s candidates for the diaconate

Permanent deacons, their wives, if married, and home parishes:

Deacon Eustolio Acosta and María de Lourdes Rodríguez – St. Rita of Cascia, Chicago

Deacon Juan and Araceli Chávez – Blessed Martyrs of Chimbote, Argo, and Summit

Deacon Alfredo Cortés – Our Lady of Mercy, Chicago

Deacon Víctor and Blanca de Ávila – St. Albert the Great, Burbank

Deacon Mario Javier and Graciela Delgado – St. Anthony of Padua, Chicago

Deacon Richard and Kimberly Duda – Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Orland Park

Deacon Mario and María Violeta Henríquez – Most Blessed Trinity Church, Waukegan

Deacon Arnoldo Martínez and Blanca Godínez – Ss. Genevieve and Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish, Chicago

Deacon Juan Edgar Ortiz-Gómez and Azucena Ortiz – Ss. Genevieve and Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish, Chicago

Deacon Adolfo Ramírez and Estela González – Misión San Juan Diego, Arlington Heights

Deacon Iván Vargas and Eliboria Marquez-Vargas – Our Lady of the Snows, Chicago

Deacon Rafael and Leticia Yáñez – Immaculate Conception and Five Holy Martyrs, Chicago

Transitional deacons and their summer parish assignments:

Deacon Cristian Enrique García Nuño – Mother of the Americas, Chicago

Brother Kevin Michael Menard – St. John Cantius, Chicago

The Archdiocese of Chicago has the largest Catholic diaconate community in the world with 466 active deacons involved in 183 parishes and agencies. Since 1972, the archdiocese has ordained 1,496 men as permanent deacons. Active, retired, and inactive deacons total 641, while another 64 Chicago deacons serve in dioceses around the country – from Florida to California.