Angelus News | June 30, 2023 | Vol. 8 No 13

was a surprise and a blessing, because
it was very important to us.
“That’s all part of God’s will.”
Todd Sanders, who with his wife,
Lesley, has served in multiple ministries
at St. Rose of Lima Church in
Simi Valley, felt especially called to
help people of the greater community
to encounter the love of Christ, especially
the poor and the marginalized.
“As I grow into my role as a deacon,”
he said, “God will provide for encounters
with people in need, and help
me to know how
to intercede for
them.”
As the only
single man
being ordained
as a permanent
deacon, Douglas
Ernesto Zuniga
Moncada never
seriously considered
priesthood
or the diaconate
even as he threw
himself into
parish ministry
at Our Lady of
the Holy Rosary
Church in Sun
Valley shortly
after emigrating
from Nicaragua
to the United
States in 1989.
He’s been a
catechist, headed
the music
ministry, been a religious education
coordinator, and St. Vincent de Paul
food bank volunteer because he “felt
an interior call to dedicate my life to
the service of God in his Church.”
As a single man, he admits to not
knowing at first how he would relate
to the other married men in his diaconate
class.
“The formation years I shared with
nine wonderful married couples
allowed me to learn from their experiences,
from their particular gifts and
charisms,” Zuniga said. “Their stories
helped me gain an understanding of
what it means to be married and the
different situations they face as parents
and grandparents.”
For Rafael Aviña of Sacred Heart
Church in Lancaster, the faith formation
that he went through with his
wife, Laura, helped him gain a more
personal and deeper understanding of
his faith and history of the Church.
“I was also enlightened in the many
aspects of spirituality and how God
acts in our lives,” Aviña said.
“I believe the formation process has
prepared me to be a servant leader
opening up doors to serve the community
in ministries in the social life of
the Church.”
Deacon Douglas Zuniga (back row, fourth from left) with colleagues from the LA Archdiocese’s Office of Religious
Education. Zuniga is the coordinator of Elementary Catechesis for the archdiocese.
However they were called, the ordination
was a moment both joyous and
humbling for all the newly ordained,
as they absorbed not only the Rite of
Ordination and its powerful text (“Believe
what you read, teach what you
believe, practice what you teach”),
but their new responsibilities in their
parishes and communities.
“I’ll get to know our community in
their pains, their sorrows, and their
joys,” White said. “It will be a new
challenge and opportunity, and I find
that very exciting.”
Meet all 10 of the new permanent
deacons, their wives, and parishes:
Rafael and Laura Aviña, Sacred
Heart Church, Lancaster. Rafael, born
in Mexico City, has been married
to Laura Reyes for 38 years and they
have three adult daughters. He works
in the Military Aviation Maintenance
Group for the U.S. Air Force. Rafael
and Laura serve at Sacred Heart as
coordinators of bereavement ministries
and extraordinary ministers of
Communion, and Rafael participates
in RCIA.
Antonio and Violeta Catalan, St.
Joseph Church, Hawthorne. Antonio,
born in Mexico, and Violeta, have
been married for 38 years and have
three children
and a granddaughter.
Both
work for Catholic
Cemeteries &
Mortuaries of Los
Angeles, at Holy
Cross Church
in Culver City.
At St. Joseph,
their ministries
include being
lectors, extraordinary
ministers
of Communion,
pre-baptismal
preparation,
Cursillistas, and
coordinating a
St. Jude Thaddeus
devotional
ministry.
Otto and Martha
Lacayo, St.
Therese Church,
Alhambra. Otto
and Martha are
from Nicaragua and have two children.
Otto recently retired from the
U.S. Postal Service after 33 years. Otto
and Martha are actively involved as
extraordinary ministers of Communion,
sacristans, and lectors (English
and Spanish). Otto belongs to the Secular
Order of Discalced Carmelites
and the Knights of Columbus. Martha
co-founded a Pregnancy Help Center,
providing advocacy for all unborn
children, and essential resources and
education to women experiencing extreme
challenges in their pregnancy.
Michael and Theresa Amerine
Lee, St Louise de Marillac Church,
Covina. Married for 12 years, Michael
and Theresa are both retired — Michael
after 20 years in law enforce-
June 30, 2023 • ANGELUS • 21