Diocese of Astorga ordains Miguel Sierra as its first permanent deacon

Miguel Sierra Manteca has been ordained a permanent deacon at the cathedral in Astorga, in the Spanish province of León. He is the first man to receive the ministry in the Diocese of Astorga. The archbishop of Oviedo presided at the ceremony on Sunday.

The archbishop ordained Sierra by the laying on of hands and stressed the importance of the sacrament in the life of the Church. Sierra is married and has one son. He completed a process of discernment and formation for the ministry, a ministry of service to the Church through the Word, the sacraments and charity.

Opening to new diaconal vocations

Sierra is the first permanent deacon in the Diocese of Astorga since the ministry was established. His ordination also opens the way for other men, whether celibate or married, to receive the sacrament of holy orders after a suitable process of formation and discernment.

The diocese said it was pleased by the ordination and expressed the hope that Sierra's vocation and service would be supported and strengthened in his new mission in the Church.

Prayer vigil the night before

A prayer vigil was held on Saturday at the parish of Santa María de La Bañeza, the community the new deacon belongs to, in preparation for Sunday's ceremony.

The ordination took place on September 27 at the cathedral in Astorga.