Rodrigo Serna ordained to the priesthood

Deacon Rodrigo Serna kissed his white stole, lifted it over his head and around his neck, and prayed for the repose of the souls of his grandparents before walking from the rectory to the ornate doors of The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help next door where more than 350 faithful quickly filled the pews for his ordination to the priesthood. 

The Mass on Aug. 12 was the culmination of an 18-year journey for Serna that began when he left home at age 14 for a seminary in Mexico. The winding road with many stops and starts is what he said he needed to discern the vocation he’d been professing since elementary school.

The hymn “All Creatures of Our God and King” was played by Nolan Patrick Reilly and sung by the cathedral choir as the procession began.    

Following the readings and proclamation of the Gospel – with his mom, Maria del Socorro Velasco, and dad, Jose Rosario Serna, seated in the front row – Deacon Serna was presented as a candidate for ordination by Father John Paul Lewis, director of seminarians for the archdiocese. 

During his homily, Archbishop Coakley spoke of the challenge and responsibilities Father Serna would face as a priest.

“It’s not enough today for a priest to be a good churchman. A priest, now as much as ever, must be first and foremost a faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus, a witness to Jesus Christ and herald of his Gospel. … We are all called to be witnesses to Jesus Christ to become not only disciples, but missionary disciples filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit to go forth into the world. If this is the challenge and the mandate for all of the baptized and the confirmed, it is more so for those who are called by the Lord to serve as his priests,” he said.

“(The priesthood) is a vocation of radical dependence on Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life in ransom for many. … Deacon Rodrigo, you are to be raised to the order of the priesthood. We rejoice with you; we give thanks to God for you.”

During the rite of ordination, Deacon Serna promised obedience to the archbishop and laid prostrate in prayer while the faithful prayed for God’s grace and mercy. The ordination began with the “laying on of hands” on Deacon Serna by Archbishop Coakley, who completed the ordination by praying over him, recalling God’s loving plan of salvation that continually provides ministers for the service of the people.

Now a priest, Father Serna was vested in priestly garments by Father James Goins, pastor of Saint Eugene Catholic Church in Oklahoma City where Father Serna served as a transitional deacon.  

Archbishop Coakley anointed his hands with sacred chrism and then he was welcomed into the priesthood by his brother priests, who filed past Father Serna, blessing him.

Following the ordination, Father Serna greeted and blessed friends, family, fellow priests and the faithful at a reception in the Connor Center. Among them was a former co-worker and friend from seminary, Father German Ramos of the Diocese of Sacramento.

“I’m really happy this day finally arrived. I’m excited for him,” Father Ramos said. “I pray that God continues to guide him, and he becomes a good priest in the likeness of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Father Serna’s first priest assignment will be as a parochial vicar at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. His first thoughts after ordination were of gratitude.

“The idea of serving in the name of God to the people of Oklahoma makes me grateful for the gift of the priesthood.”

Diane Clay is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.

Click HERE to view more photos. Photos Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.