New deacon, David Villafana, challenged to exercise humility

By Kaelanne Jordan

mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

“The office of the deacon is not behind a desk with a nice chair with air-conditioned comfort.” Instead, “The office of the deacon is on the street corner,” among the elderly, the forgotten, the young, and those on the margins.

Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon delivered that message as he ordained David Mark Villafana to the transitional diaconate Monday, January 6 at the St Francis of Assisi Church, Sangre Grande, in his homily. The ordination marked a significant step in Villafana’s journey toward priesthood and drew clergy, Religious, seminarians, family members, and faithful from across the Archdiocese and the wider region.

Parish priest Fr Steve Duncan, in his welcome, reflected on Rev Villafana’s background and formation. He noted that the ordinand was “nurtured by his family” and that his religious life began “as an altar server in the parish of Holy Cross, Santa Cruz.”

As part of his seminary formation, Rev Villafana served in parish communities in Rio Claro, Penal, Mayaro and Manzanilla. Fr Duncan also highlighted his overseas experience, stating that Rev Villafana “spent one calendar year in Jamaica, teaching at Campion College and living at the parish of St Thomas Aquinas in Kingston.”

Following his return to Trinidad and Tobago, Rev Villafana was assigned to the Sangre Grande/Coryal cluster. “We at Sangre Grande are privileged to host this Mass of Ordination and therefore extend a warm Sangre Grande welcome to each of you,” Fr Duncan said, as he welcomed clergy from Jamaica and Barbados, Religious communities, seminarians, and representatives of ecclesial communities.

Archbishop Gordon reflected on the nature of vocation and service, addressing the newly ordained directly. “Called, touched, gifted, consecrated, sent—that’s what a deacon is. And that’s what you are,” he said.

Drawing on Scripture, the Archbishop reminded the congregation of the depth of God’s call, saying, “before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you, I consecrated you.”

He noted the perseverance required to live a vocation faithfully, adding, “Not everyone who is called answers the call. And not everyone who answers the call continues answering the call….”

Emphasising humility and reliance on grace, Archbishop Gordon said, “Not one of us is worthy or ready to be set aside by God for holy and sacred ministry. None of us, except for the grace of God.” He affirmed Rev Villafana’s journey, adding, “And David, you’ve experienced that grace.”

Calling the Church to deeper witness, the Archbishop declared, “the world today does not need more teachers and ministers, the world today needs more saints.”

Following the ordination, Rev Villafana reflected on his journey, saying, “these past years have been nothing but a lesson, a lesson I needed to learn the hard, the enduring, the desert way, and I couldn’t have done it alone.” He added, “To get to this point was not an independent journey, but many parts forming this one journey.”

Reflecting on his faith experience, he concluded, “I was once lost. For seven years I was lost… and then found the light.”