On Saturday, October 29, Gabriel Adrián Fuentes Velasco, C.S.C., was Ordained to the Diaconate by the Most Rev. Carlos Godoy Labraña, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Santiago. The Mass of Ordination was held at Saint Daniel Chapel in San Roque Parish, which was founded and continues to be administered by the Congregation of Holy Cross in the Peñalolén suburb of the capital Santiago.

Gabriel professed his Final Vows in Holy Cross back on January 15, 2022. His vows were received by then First Assistant and Vicar General of the Congregation, Br. Paul Bednarzcyk, C.S.C., who went on to be elected Superior General of the Congregation on July 1, 2022.

After his Final Profession, Gabriel went to Moreau Seminary in Notre Dame, Indiana, to live with the community and study English. He returned to Chile in September for final preparations for his Diaconate Ordination.

Learn more about the work of Holy Cross in Chile

For Gabriel, it was particularly moving to have Bishop Godoy preside at his Ordination, as it was a young Fr. Godoy who mentored Gabriel in the faith as a youth and helped him deepen his prayer life. His example was an important influence in Gabriel’s discernment of his religious vocation.

In addition to the Superior of the District of Chile-Perú, Fr. José Ahumada, C.S.C., also present for the Ordination were Fr. William Lies, C.S.C., Superior of the United States Province of Priests and Brothers, who oversees the Congregation’s mission in Chile, and his Vicar, Fr. Peter Jarret, C.S.C. Both were in the country to make the yearly canonical visit to the Holy Cross community in Chile and Peru.

Also joining in the celebration were other Holy Cross priests, sisters, brothers, members of the local clergy, and various friends and family of Gabriel.

Find out more about the Formation Process in Holy Cross

Following the Mass, there was a brief reception in the courtyard of the chapel to give thanks and celebrate with Gabriel. Then there was a lunch for Gabriel’s family and the Holy Cross community in the House of Formation.

While Gabriel awaits his formal deacon placement, he will be coordinating the community in the House of Formation for the next two months and assisting at the Congregation’s schools and parishes in Chile.