Making Something New Through the Spirit

Pentecost Eve

One of the great privileges of my vocation as bishop is to ordain gifted men and women to the sacred order of deacons and to the sacred order of priests. Last night, I was in Albuquerque to ordain Patricia Riggins as transitional deacon. Patricia entered our diocesan ordination process at the request of the then Bishop of the Rio Grande, Jeffery Steenson. After three years study at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, she was graduated earlier this month.

Fittingly, her ordination was held at St. Michael and All Angels in Albuquerque where she first discerned her call to ordained ministry. As I prayed, "Therefore, Father, through Jesus Christ your Son, giver your Holy Spirit to Patricia; fill her with grace and power, and make her a deacon in your Church," I felt the awesome power of the moment. God was making something new

Deacons are supposed to "serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely." Goodness knows we need deacons. Indeed, deacons are to be icons of the servant ministry that is the responsibility of every follower of Jesus Christ. And so, as the Holy Spirit descends upon the church tomorrow on Pentecost, I pray that we will feel the awesome power of that moment. For God will be making something new. With power and might, each of us can serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely.