The Auxiliary Bishop of Pamplona and Tudela, Juan Antonio Aznárez, has ordained seven students of the School of Theology of the University of Navarra as deacons. The celebration took place on Sunday, May 31, the feast of Pentecost, in the parish of St. Nicholas in Pamplona.

During his homily, Bishop Aznárez reminded the new deacons that, just as he did with his apostles, Jesus had chosen them, being aware of their limitations. And he highlighted the words that Jesus transmitted to them on Easter Sunday when they were locked up because of fear: "The mission statement that my father entrusted to me I entrust to you".

In this sense, the Auxiliary Bishop of Pamplona told them that from now on their task as deacons will consist in making known the word of God with their lives and in helping and serving the faithful that the Lord puts in their way: "Neither you nor I convert anyone, it is the Holy Spirit, he will teach you to speak in such a way that each one can listen, understand and welcome the good news, as he tells in the reading from St. Luke. All for the glory of God".

The seven new deacons, residents of seminar Bidasoa International, are: Hector Alejandro Perez (Mexico), Jairo Antonio Calero (Nicaragua), Angel de Jesus Gonzalez (Mexico), Pedro Antonio Martinez (Nicaragua), Saul Ruiz Garcia (Mexico), Enock Rutashubanyuma (Tanzania) and Federico Enyer Valiente (Mexico).

Before concluding, the newly ordained deacon Pedro Antonio Martínez, on behalf of his six companions, thanked all those who made this ordination possible: Bishop Aznárez, auxiliary bishop of Pamplona and Tudela; Jorge Nava, vicar of the Prelature of Opus Dei in Navarra; César Magaña, pastor of San Nicolás; the CARF Foundation and the Vasconia Foundation; and the professors, companions and administrative staff of the Ecclesiastical Schools .

So far, more than 600 priests have been trained at seminar, eleven of them bishops from different dioceses around the world.