Guatemalan-born Raul Elias was ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Brooklyn last Saturday, Dec. 8 during 10 a.m. bilingual Mass at St. Gerard Majella, Hollis.

At the same hour, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio ordained two transitional deacons – Deacons Patrick Longalong and James Rodriguez – at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington.

In Hollis, Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano was the main celebrant. Msgr. John Maloney, Episcopal Vicar for Queens South, and Father Edward Doran, St. Gerard’s pastor, concelebrated.

Assisting on the altar were St. Gerard’s Deacon Guillermo Gomez and Deacon Joseph Dass, ordained in May.

Elias, 42, an import/export airfreight agent who lives in Queens Village, joined St. Gerard Majella parish about a year ago. He’s distinguished himself as an active acolyte, lector, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and baptismal instructor. He ministers to the sick and bereaved and is involved in the R.C.I.A. and Pre-Cana programs.

Sitting in the front row at his ordination were his mother and sister, both named Jacinta, and his wife of 21 years, Elba. They have three children, Jessica, 19, Anna, 13, and Christopher, 3, and a granddaughter Theresa.

Marie Elena Giossi Photo 

Bishop Caggiano welcomed the congregation, filled with Elias’ family, dozens of brother deacons and nearly 100 well- wishers.

“We gather this morning with great joy to celebrate with Raul, Elba and the parish of St. Gerard Majella,” said Bishop Caggiano, who conducted the Rite of Ordination in Spanish.

Following the Gospel, Elias was called forward and presented by Deacon Jorge Gonzalez, director of the diocesan permanent diaconate program, to Bishop Caggiano, who approved the ordination. Applause sounded throughout the church.

“The Lord Jesus teaches us that service means the giving of one’s total life for others,” the bishop said in his homily.

Deacons, he said, are not only called to read the Gospel, “but to become a living Gospel in our midst. … to be a mirror into the life and love of our Lord Jesus. They are meant to bring our hopes, our sufferings, our joys, our fears and our greatest prayers to the altar by sharing intimately in your life and mine,” he said.

These “men of courage,” he said, bring Christ’s light to the sick, poor, homeless and all who have lost hope in seeing God’s face. “They do so courageously in ways you and I will never see, but the Lord sees.

Bishop Caggiano turned to Elias and said, “That is what you are called to, Raul.”

He said that Raul’s wife and family are blessed for the sacrifices they have already made and will continue to make so that Raul can serve others.

Bishop Caggiano then formally questioned Elias, who responded with his intention to undertake the office of deacon. Elias put his hands in the bishop’s and promised lifelong obedience to the Church and diocesan hierarchy.

His children watched from the pews as their father lay prostrate in the main aisle during the litany of saints.
He rose and knelt before Bishop Caggiano who placed his hands on Elias’ head and consecrated him to the diaconate.

Deacon Guillermo Gomez vested the new deacon, who then received the Book of Gospels and the kiss of peace from the bishop.

“Deacon Raul. Doesn’t that sound good?” Bishop Caggiano asked the faithful to which they responded with a standing ovation. He announced that Deacon Elias will serve St. Gerard Majella parish and St. Patrick’s parish, Long Island City.

Father Doran, pastor, extended his thanks to the bishop and congratulations to Elias. “We are honored and blessed to have him,” he said.

“It’s the calling of God,” he said. “My life has gone up and down,” he said, making a roller coaster motion with his hand, “and finally this is the moment.

“I want to serve the community, the sick, the people who need my help. I will try to follow the example of Christ always.”

“I’m very happy for him that he finally accomplished what he wanted to do for so long,” said his daughter Anna.

Smiling, his wife Elba added, “Ten years he wanted this and finally, he achieved his dream. I feel very happy. We are hoping to serve the community with the help of God.”