Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz, D.D. will ordain Ángel Aguilar & Ángel Tarango to the Sacred Order of the Diaconate on Friday, April 29 at 6:30pm at St. Patrick Cathedral.

The diaconate is the first of three ranks of ordained ministry in the Catholic Church, which also include the priesthood and the episcopacy, or the ministry of a bishop. Men studying for the priesthood are ordained as transitional deacons prior to beginning their final year of study before ordination to the priesthood. Deacons are able to preach at Mass, baptize, and celebrate weddings.

Loyd Divinagracia was ordained a transitional deacon earlier this year. The three men will be ordained to the priesthood in 2023.

The Diocese of El Paso currently has 19 men preparing for the priesthood at seminaries across the country.

One of our greatest areas of focus is the Seminarian Education Endowment Fund, a permanent fund created to ensure continual resources for the recruitment and training of seminarians to serve as the future leadership of our Diocese. The Seminarian Education Endowment Fund has grown to $4,057,226. We’re 82% towards our short-term goal of $5M. A fund of this size will generate $200,000 in annual distributions.

The Catholic Foundation extends its gratitude to the many donors who have made the higher education of these men possible and invites you to join us for this wonderful celebration.

For more information, please contact Major Gifts Officer Sofía Larkin at (915) 872-8412 or slarkin@catholicfoundationelpaso.org.