Three dozen members of the Hispanic community are the newest lay ecclesial ministers in the Diocese of Cleveland.
The new ministers are from La Sagrada Familia, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Michael the Archangel and St. Mary, Painesville parishes. Their countries of origin are Puerto Rico, Mexico, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Peru.
It took three years for the new ministers to complete the required work to earn certification. They were recognized at a closing ceremony and certification liturgy celebrated on July 22 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist by Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries. Concelebrants were Father Joseph Callahan, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Cleveland; Father Mark Riley, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Cleveland and Father Chris Zerucha, parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Painesville. Deacon Miguel Figueroa of St. Michael?s assisted at Mass.
The newly certified are Mildred Caraballo, Carmen Cordoba, Juana Gatto, Aida Idiaquez, Elizabeth Martinez, Sonia Martinez, Elizabeth Mendez, Leticia Mendoza, Maria Ramos, Vermary Reyes, Jose Reyes, Ayreen Rodriguez, Ines Rosa, Berkys Sosa, Melvin Torres, Carmen Vazquez, Miguel Figueroa, Israel Pacheco, Mario Palma, Cecelia Palma, Rigoberto Rodriguez, Rosario Rodriguez, Jacinta Gomez, Ana Gonzalez, Irma Ortiz, Mayra Perez, Elvira Aquilera De Montes, Hernan Bernal, Lorena Cabrera, Edgar Cabrera, Gerardo Garza Herrera, Monica Juarez, Juan Carlos Lopez, Roberto Montes, Juanita Ornelas and Oscar Ornelas.
After three years of work, the ministers said they are ready to begin their new roles in the Church.
One said the process ?opened my eyes to my Church, to my faith and to the people in my community, It helped me centralize God in my life . . . I also realized my heart was in my Hispanic community and my desire to serve them.?
Another said, ?I went to these classes to learn about the Bible and my faith and how to help people in my community.?
?My goal was to bring people closer to God by understanding that he loves us so much. It is also to bring a new light to all families regardless of who they are or where they come from,? another said.
?I am better prepared to share, defend and live my faith,? said another of the new ministers.
In his homily, Bishop Gries reminded the ministers that the Lord ?called them each by name.?
The liturgy and certification took place on the feast of St. Mary Magdalen, who Bishop Gries said was the first woman evangelist. ?She proclaimed the new of Christ?s resurrection,? he said, adding that she had been portrayed
