Bishop Anthony B. Taylor ordained Fathers Mauricio Carrasco, Juan Manjarrez and Alejandro Puello May 26, making it the first time in diocesan history that three Spanish-speaking priests were ordained at one time.
Until the ordination, the diocese only had two native Spanish speakers, Father Salvador Marquez-Munoz, who was born in Mexico, and Father Ruben Quinteros, originally from Argentina.
The new priests represent the diversity of the men studying to be priests for the Diocese of Little Rock. Of the 35 seminarians studying during the 2011-2012 school year, 13 were Hispanic. Father Carrasco, 27, of Springdale and Father Manjarrez, 27, of Fort Smith were born in Mexico but moved to Arkansas when they were in middle school. Father Puello, 28, came to live with his father in Paragould when he was in college and then discerned a vocation to the priesthood.
The standing-room only Mass at Christ the King Church in Little Rock featured prayers and music in Spanish and English. Family members and parishioners from the new priests’ parishes were joined by parishioners who met the men when they were completing their summer assignments as seminarians.
In his homily, Bishop Taylor said the priests might be leading a flock, but Catholic laypeople are by no means “stupid” like sheep.
“God has blessed them with many gifts of intellect, many talents that you and I do not have,” he said. “And he has also blessed them with sincere commitment to Jesus and his Church. They are our co-workers in the vineyard. So as you begin your priestly ministry, I urge you to revere the people you serve … indeed, you will serve them best by empowering people to contribute their gifts, placing yourself at their service — not the other way around. The Church in Arkansas needs priests who lead by example, who revere the spiritual and ministerial gifts of those Jesus sends us to serve.
“Our Church should be characterized by collegiality, not coercion; by intelligent discourse, not edicts imposed from on high; of ideas and values, not just legal rules. Ninety-nine percent of the time your ministry will require you to lead but not compel; to inspire and not shame; to encourage the sheep instead of rebuking them — and hopefully that rare 1 percent of the time when rebuking is needed might never arise, if they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you love them and revere them.”
Following the homily, the elect were questioned by the bishop on their willingness to be priests, making promises of respect and obedience to the bishop, and prostrated before the altar while the Litany of Saints was sung. The strength of the Holy Spirit was given to the men by the laying on of hands by the bishop and priests.
After the bishop prayed the Prayer of Ordination over the elect, the new priests were invested with the stole and chasuble. The bishop then anointed the men’s hands with sacred chrism and shared a fraternal sign of peace. The other priests in attendance also hugged the newly ordained.
The congregation gave the new priests a standing ovation when they exchanged the sign of peace with each other and hugged tightly.
Father Puello said when he was reciting the Eucharistic prayers during Mass it finally hit him that he was now a priest.
“We have been practicing Mass for months,” he said of his studies at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. “Now I can say it and it is for real. You are numb. I can’t believe this is happening.”
Father Carrasco said, “I have never felt more at home and more at peace. It was exciting. I was at home. I felt this was what I was born to do. I never felt more at peace.”
Father Manjarrez said, “It was a very joyous occasion.”
When the bishop and priests laid their hands on Father Manjarrez, he said, “It was the moment of the coming down of the Holy Spirit. No words are used. You can feel the Holy Spirit come down.”
Stephen Hart, a seminarian for the Diocese of Little Rock, said it an amazing experience to see his fellow seminarians finally become priests.
“It has really shown me that God does guide you through whatever it is you are going through your own life toward his own paths,” he said.
Hart said he hopes the new priests will live lives of service to the people they lead and continue to be an example of Christ in their lives.
“Through the sacraments … they will become more and more every day who they are and closer to God through that,” he said. “I hope to join them one day.”
Fathers Manjarrez and Carrasco traveled to Mexico following the ordination to celebrate Mass for their extended families. Father Puello went to Florida to visit his mother’s family near Miami.
Luis Manjarrez, Father Manjarrez’s younger brother, was present at the ordination along with his parents and family members.
“I’m blessed to be a part of it … I remember him going into it and how dedicated he was to it and finally it all comes to this moment, it’s a great feeling,” he said.
Manjarrez hopes to see his brother bring Christ into people’s lives through his ministry as a priest.
“I hope that he is a big example … Through him, people see Christ,” he said.
Father Puello’s mother, Yngrid Blonda, watched her only son be ordained. She said she felt a lot of different emotions when Father Puello told her that he wanted to be a priest.
“It’s an incredible experience being a mother of a priest … You never think when you have a baby … that they will be a priest,” she said.
Blonda said she wishes to see her son happy in his ministry as a priest.
“I like to see how he spreads the Word of God … I would like to see my son do a very good job in the Church,” she said.
Lizzette Castrellon, Father Carrasco’s older sister, attended the ordination with other relatives. Castrellon said she was proud for her brother.
“I feel all that responsibility, I just pray to God that he will be a faithful priest,” she said.
She watched her brother greet people at the reception after the ordination and only wished that he would always be happy.
“I hope he keeps that joy in difficult times,” she said.
Juliane Pierini contributed to this article.
