“Guiding me in building the kingdom of God”

Diaconate ordination Nov. 5

Twenty-seven deacon candidates from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City will be ordained to the permanent diaconate by Archbishop Coakley on Nov. 5 at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help after spending four years in formation.  

One of the deacon candidates, Hector Hernandez, and his wife Martha Hernandez spoke to the Sooner Catholic about the ordination and being ordained a deacon.

Name: Hector and Martha Hernandez 

Family: Three grown children and three grandchildren. Yolanda and husband Ethan Pool, Hector Harvey, and Emma and husband Tony Guevara. 

Home Parish: Saint Mary Catholic Church, Clinton 

Occupation: Maintenance/transportation 

Q: How did you know you were being called to the diaconate?
 
Hector: When I was invited by Father Rex Arnold, it was a “Yes” right away. I was already working in some ministries at the church and got the feeling that I was able to do more. 
 
Q: What has been the most rewarding aspect of being a deacon candidate? 

Hector: All the knowledge I have acquired, the growing in my faith in God and his Church, all the good friends I have found during these four years, and the privilege God gave me to be able to be closer to ordination. Also, the support of my parish and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. 

Q: What has been unexpected?
 
Hector: Even though I have been getting a lot of preparation during these four years, learning about our faith, theology, the spiritual life in Christ and the Church, thinking of the change of life from a lay person to becoming a member of the clergy can make me nervous. I have faith in Jesus and the Holy Spirit that they will be guiding me in building the kingdom of God.
  
Q: What is the most challenging thing about being a deacon candidate?
 
Hector: As I am Hispanic, Spanish is my native language. It was kind of difficult for me to be in a class where everything was in English. I was feeling like I was starting over as if I was attending Kindergarten, looking at everyone when I was not able to understand, asking Martha what was said and later investigating in the dictionary, books, the Bible.
 
Martha: When Hector was called to become a deacon, I got a feeling of happiness as well as confusion and nervousness. I knew it was a big step, commitment and responsibility to serve God with such a big title. It changed everyone’s life in our family. 
  
Q: What special ministry will you undertake?
 
Hector: I hope to be able to preach without forgetting that I am a servant of Christ. I will be serving the community, taking communion to the sick and evangelizing.
  
Q: What do you look forward to most in your ministry as a deacon? 

Hector: To be able to share my faith and love for God, evangelizing and having the feeling to be closer to him during Mass and in the Eucharist. 

Q: How does the calling to the diaconate play a role in your family life? Spiritual life?   

Hector: Our family accepted with gladness my call to be a deacon. They give us support and understanding. I think they also feel the commitment to be part of a future deacon’s family. Our spiritual life is a lot different from what it was before we started this journey, now we try to keep a closer relationship with God through praying, learning and evangelizing. 

Martha: My role as a deacon’s wife is to support Hector in his ministry, be at his side in every moment and for him, pray to Jesus Christ for him to be a good caring servant, that he never forgets that he is conformed to be like Christ who said, “He came to serve, not to be served.”  

Eliana Tedrow is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.