The deaconate ordination of Orlando Ariel Chavarría Gutiérrez, CM, at our Panama ministry, was celebrated on Saturday morning, February 11.
Confreres and laity from all over the Region of Panama, as well as Daughters of Charity, priests and seminarians from the Archdiocese of Panama, confreres from the Province of Central America and the Vice-Province of Costa Rica and many members of Orlando’s family gathered in St. Mary’s Church, Balboa for the joyful celebration.
The ordaining celebrant was Bishop Rafael Valdivieso Miranda of the Diocese of Chitré, who is the president of the Bishop’s Conference in Panama and had been Orlando’s professor in the seminary. The choir from Orlando’s home parish in Volcan sang beautifully.
St. Mary’s Parish hosted the celebration, with a big assist from our Vincentian seminarians who spent most of Thursday setting up the hall before donning albs on Saturday to serve as liturgical ministers during the ceremony. After the festivities ended, the seminarians packed their bags and headed to Escobal, where they will participate in a weeklong mission in that sector.
Please continue to pray for Orlando, all the seminarians in Panama and the USA, and ask our Lord to call young men to the vocation of a Vincentian Priest and Brother.
St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us!
Photo Highlights
