Among the 16 deacon candidates instituted to the ministry of acolyte Oct. 19 in Mantua was 53-year-old Luis Alfredo Mounier, who expressed gratitude for his faith, family and classmates.
"This is a gift and a call from God," said Mounier, who left Puerto Rico almost 30 years ago with his wife, Ana, and their infant son, Jorge, to make a better life in the United States.
Today, the committed Catholic contributes his gifts and labor not only to Vineland's public schools as a bus driver, but to his parish, Divine Mercy, as an altar server.
Mounier was among the 16 deacon candidates instituted to the ministry of acolyte by Bishop Sullivan during a morning Mass at Church of the Incarnation in Mantua. As acolytes, the men will be tasked with preparing the altar and sacred vessels for the liturgy, and assisting the priest and deacon when needed.
During the Mass, in which the men were joined by their families and friends, Bishop Sullivan placed the sacred vessels in each of their hands, imploring them to "take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the Eucharist [and] make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church."
On the day's feast of the North American Martyrs, Bishop Sullivan called on the deacon candidates to imitate the saints' deep-seeded faith. "May you always be faithful to Jesus Christ and to his Church, now and in your future as deacons."
Mounier is a part of a culturally diverse class. He is the only man of Puerto Rican descent, but joins others from Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic in knowing Spanish as their first language. Other men in the class hail from Haiti, Nigeria and the United States.
Although from different backgrounds, Mounier said that he and his classmates "all have the same mission: to use our talents to serve the Church of South Jersey. That's what we're concentrated on."
The deacon candidates also installed as acolytes Oct. 19 were: Edward J. Danzi; Michael C. Drees; Jose Ines Garcia Popoca; Paul W. Goebel III; Carlos A. Gonzalez-Perez; Eddy Gonzalez; Matthew Krug; Charles M. Lacey Jr.; Walkens J. Moise; Paschal C. Nwako; Kirk A. Popiolek; Louis J. Presenza Jr.; Edwin B. Santos Jr.; Barry B. Steele, and Douglas R. Stetser.
Drees, 53, a chemical engineer from Church of the Incarnation, has spent a lifetime of service in the Church. In his elementary school days, he was an altar server, later becoming a lector, Pre-Cana teacher and Eucharist minister.
Shortly before he and his class began their studies in 2019, "I felt called to contribute to a higher level," he said.
The faith of his fellow deacon-candidates, he knows, "strengthens my own faith. It's nice to know there are 16 guys who are praying for each other, and experiencing each other's successes, challenges and growth," Drees said.
In their twice-a-week classes in Hammonton, the men are "bringing their own culture richness," he said. "It's a reminder that we're a universal Church."
Deacon Charles Schiapelli, assistant director of Diaconate Formation for the Diocese of Camden, is confident the candidates' varied backgrounds will "assist our parish communities as they respond to the spiritual, sacramental and material needs of parishioners from diverse cultures."
"We keep [the candidates] in our prayers as they continue their studies in preparation for ministry as a deacon," he said.
The day after his institution, Mounier was put to work by his pastor, Father Joel Arciga Camarillo. "He wanted me to serve the noon Mass," Mounier explained. Being on the altar for the first time during the Sacred Liturgy, he admitted, was a moment that brought him close to tears of joy.
"Being up close was beautiful," he said of the moment of transubstantiation, when the bread and wine fully become Jesus' Body and Blood.
Mounier said he is looking forward to his ordination as a permanent deacon in about a years' time, God willing. "I appreciate all the prayers from the community. It's truly something special."