PEOPLE of GOD
22
Anthony Ezeaputa What is your favorite part of the Lent and Easter Season? My favorite part of the liturgical season of Lent is its emphasis on spiritual discipline. The season of Lent calls me to discipline myself, and to mortify myself from the things that compete against my response to the call to holiness. My favorite part of the Easter Season is the Easter Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. The Easter Triduum is the most important celebration of our Christian faith: the suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In your studies, what is greatest thing you have learned in getting ready for serving the people of God? The greatest thing I have learned is charity. The beautiful and sound academic formation I have received is to be shared in the community of faith for the salvation of souls. What would you like to ask for from all those who pray for you every day? I appreciate your prayers. Please pray for me that I would be faithful and fulfilled in my decision to respond to the universal call to holiness through the Sacrament of the Holy Orders. Reverend Monsignor Richard J. Olona was born December 23, 1944 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, attended Sacred Heart Elementary School, IHM Seminary (Santa Fe) and Mt. Angel Seminary (Oregon). He was ordained on March 29, 1970 at Our Lady of the Assumption in Albuquerque by Archbishop James Peter Davis. He served many rural and city parishes in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. He was also appointed to several special assignments such as Vocation Director, Chancellor, Vicar General, and Ecumenical Officer. Monsignor worked in Peru from 1983-1986 with the St. James Missionary Society. Retiring in 2015, he continues to assist at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish and resides with the Franciscan Friars at San Juan Diego. Please say a special prayer for Msgr. Olona as he celebrates his 50th year dedicated to the people of God.
April 2020
Deacon Joseph Baltz In Lent, I love the motivation I get for doubling down and advancing in holiness through doing stuff I wouldn’t normally want to do such as prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It’s easier because we are all struggling together. In Easter, I love the Easter Vigil Mass. It’s long, but it’s worth it to see a well executed ritual that makes me realize just how awesome the Faith is. In your studies, what is greatest thing you have learned in getting ready for serving the people of God? I would have to say trust in Our Blessed Mother. Totus tuus and all that good stuff. To entrust my ministry, and indeed my whole self, into her immaculate and merciful hands will bring about the greatest possible glory to God. What would you like to ask for from all those who pray for you every day? Please pray to St. Joseph that I imitate his fatherly love for the Savior in my care for the children of God, and that I imitate his spousal love of the Blessed Virgin in my care for the Church. Jordan Sanchez What is your favorite part of the Lent and Easter Season? My favorite part of Lent is the Stabat Mater hymn. I find myself singing it often while imagining myself being held in our Blessed Mother’s mantle as we stand at the foot of our Lord’s Cross. My favorite part of Easter would have to be the candlelight procession into church at the Easter vigil with all of our faces lit with the warm light of our candles. This reminds me of the gentle love of Christ in our hearts. In your studies, what is greatest thing you have learned in getting ready for serving the people of God? The greatest thing I have learned as I prepare to serve the people of God is that while my seminary education has been wonderful, I still have so much to learn! I am so excited to serve and continue to learn and grow day by day! What would you like to ask for from all those who pray for you every day? Please pray for me through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that I may be a faithful bridge to her Son, Jesus.
