Meet transitional deacon candidate Andrew Sanchez
Twelve men will be ordained May 16 as transitional deacons, six for New Orleans
On May 16, 12 men will be ordained as transitional deacons – the final step before ordination to the priesthood next year – at a 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond at St. Louis Cathedral. Six of the transitional deacons will be ordained for the Archdiocese of New Orleans; the remaining six will be ordained for other dioceses in the U.S. and Africa. The Clarion Herald asked the diaconate candidates for the Archdiocese of New Orleans to reflect on their service, particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic. They also were asked to reflect on the reasons they selected the person who will vest them with their deacon’s dalmatic during the Ordination Mass. The Mass will be broadcast live on WLAE-TV and live-streamed at nolacatholic.org.
Andrew Sanchez
Home parish: St. Luke the Evangelist, Slidell
Diaconate internship: St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Metairie
Who will vest you and why did you select him?
Deacon and soon- to-be-Father Sylvester Adoga. I chose him because he is a very humble and virtuous man who always shows a great love for God and his holy Word in Sacred Scripture.
What has your seminary discernment been like?
Discernment has been a gift from God. I feel truly blessed for my time at Notre Dame Seminary. The rector, Father James Wehner, the resident priests and the faculty do an excellent job of making Notre Dame Seminary a great place to discern the will of God. It has not always been easy, but God is always faithful and continues to be generous in his gifts to me through my seminary formation.
How challenging have the last two months been since the seminary went into lockdown? Do you have any thoughts about how the world may have changed?
The challenges of the last two months have come and gone. In the beginning, when I was busy with seminary assignments, it was easy for me to forget that we were “locked down,” but as the semester started to finish I was met with the struggle of wanting to be with my family.
By God’s grace, I was able to use the time for concentrated prayer and study. It seems to me that people are more aware of their blessings and have a greater appreciation for the beauty of God’s creation. I hope that people will also come to appreciate the gift of the sacraments as a result of our current situation.
What are you most looking forward to in your ministry as a deacon, knowing there still may be some restrictions on the size of the parish congregation for weeks or months?
I am looking the most forward to encountering Christ in the people of God, regardless of the size of the congregation.