Bishop Edward J. Burns, center, and Auxiliary Bishop Greg Kelly pose with newly ordained transitional deacons, from left, Eugene Anthony Ikenna Udemba, Cesar Garcia Saenz, Miguel Angel Sotelo, Juan Esteban Rojas Navarro, Kevin Mark Kolker, William Alex Fry, Vu Mark Nguyen, and Dennis Joseph O’Donnell, after celebrating a Mass for the Order of Ordination to the Diaconate for 18 men on April 23 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Frisco. Also shown are, back row from left, Father Zach Webb, director of seminarians; Father Arthur Unachukwu, associate vicar for clergy; and Father Paul Bechter, director of vocations. (Ben Torres/Special Contributor)
From The Texas Catholic
Declaring it “a day of jubilation for the Diocese of Dallas,” Bishop Edward J. Burns celebrated a Mass on April 23 for the ordination of eight men to the transitional diaconate at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Frisco.
Seminarians ordained to the diaconate included William Alex Fry, Cesar Garcia Saenz, Kevin Mark Kolker, Vu Mark Nguyen, Dennis Joseph O’Donnell, Juan Esteban Rojas Navarro, Miguel Angel Sotelo, and Eugene Anthony Ikenna Udemba.
“You have spent years in preparation…but there is still much to do,” Bishop Burns told the ordinands. “We do not stop growing. We do not stop in fulfilling the task of being made in the image of Jesus Christ and to ultimately be the good shepherd.”
The bishop also expressed gratitude to the families, friends and supporters who have accompanied the men on their journeys of faith.
“We could not do this without you,” he said. “I want to congratulate and thank the families and friends who have supported you in this process.”
