FROM THE DESK OF MSGR. FRANCISCO RIOS, PAROCHIAL VICAR.....  
 

 My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
 
During this Easter season, we have been reading the Acts of the Apostles which narrates the beginnings of the Church in which we hear how the church started and was growing (even the growing pains of the communities). Chapter 6 of Acts says: “At that time, the number of disciples continued to grow. The Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So, the Twelve call together the community of disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the Word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint with this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word …they chose Stephen a man with faith and the Holy Spirit and six other men…The Apostles prayed and laid hands on them…The Word of God continue to spread and the number of the disciples increased greatly.” (Acts 6,1-7)
 
I quote this not to say that complaints have always been in the church, since the beginnings, but rather to say that DEACONS have been in the Church since the beginning and have been an important part of the Mission of the Church. In others part of Acts we find that the deacons were also preaching the Word. Deacons are Ordained Ministers of the Church, they can preach the Word, they can baptize, perform weddings, bless people and religious articles, preside at funerals and do social justice ministry.
 
At St. Catherine’s we have three home-grown priests: Fr. Tim Nondorf, Fr. Michael Hendrickson and Fr. Thomas Flowers. We also have been blessed to have three great deacons at Saint Catherine, Deacons Rick, Phil and Juan. We are grateful for them. Now God has called one more Deacon, Deacon Ken Wright. Thanks be to God. We wish and pray that he will enjoy a wonderful and blessed ministry. We continue to pray for vocations, men and women, to Priesthood and religious life.
 
Congratulations Deacon Ken. God bless you always.