Last Sunday, the feast of Corpus Christi, marked the beginning of a new life for Deacon Gustavo Catipon and his wife Elena.

During Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Deacon Gus --- ordained to the permanent diaconate the day before in the same sanctuary of his home parish --- held the Lectionary high as he proceeded to the ambo to proclaim the Gospel and preach his first homily. He told those assembled about what it means to follow the example of Jesus the servant. "What brings us together and keeps us together," he said, "is the sharing of the one bread and one cup."

On June 13, the Catipons processed arm in arm down the main aisle of the Cathedral along with eight other deacon couples. After five years of prayer, study and service, plus great sacrifice on their part and by their families, the deacon couples came to the Cathedral to offer their lives in service to God and to God's people.

In their ordination rite, the candidates made promises of obedience before Cardinal Roger Mahony. They lay prostrate around the altar during the litany of the saints, received the laying on of hands and the book of readings to be used at Mass, which they brought back to their wives, who then assisted in their vesting.

In addition to the Catipons, the Mother Teresa Permanent Deaconate Class of 2009 includes: Leonard Paul and Elisapeta Fido, Our Lady of Victory, Compton; Alan and Holly Holderness, St. Louise de Marillac, Covina; Romeo and Priscilla (Baby) Ligot, St. Pancratius, Lakewood; Paul and Michelle Pesqueira, St. Mariana de Paredes, Pico Rivera; Dale and Kim Sheckler, St. Lawrence Martyr, Redondo Beach; Ronald and Barbara Sanchez, Immaculate Conception, Monrovia; Victor and Fe Maria Dolores Tiambeng, St. Martha, Valinda; and Francis and Clara Tchoi, The 103 Saints Korean Catholic Center, Torrance/St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Lomita.

Prior to the liturgy of ordination the couples spoke of their great joy, at times with wordless emotion. They spoke of the deepening of their spiritual lives individually and together as a couple, of the tremendous growth that has taken place in their marriages and family lives, of their great desire to reach out and be of service to God's people.

"It's another chapter of my life, myself and for Barbara," said Ronald Sanchez. "We feel that we have to continue on with the idea of imago Dei, the Image of God, in our service to the community. So we feel that we are especially blessed."

Barbara Sanchez came close to tears when she spoke about the whole experience of preparation and growth for them as a couple. She called the experience "the end of a good journey and the beginning of journey that I am not sure where it's going, but I have Ron and I have God."

Calling their deaconate preparation "a life altering experience," Paul Pesqueira said, "My wife Michelle said, 'Yes' to my call, but she also found her call. I've seen Michelle grow in her spirituality. I've seen our marriage grow and get stronger. Our children have grown with us, physically and spiritually and they've been so supportive of Michelle and me through this entire process. I am thankful and humbled."

The deacon couples will continue their ministry within their parishes --- visiting the sick and those in prison, feeding the hungry and homeless, leading catechetical and formational programs --- and deacons will also assist where needed in performing weddings, preaching homilies and presiding at baptisms and graveside services.

Dave Scheckler said his preparation goes back to 1993, "when I first started the path of joining the Church through RCIA. It's been a long journey for me. Kim has been extremely supportive, and she's right along side me, with the help she's provided me through the whole process."

Said Kim: "He's a wonderful homilist and he is wonderful with people. I just keep seeing him grow and grow - and that's my hope, that he continues to grow in the blessing the Lord has given him."