The Cathedral of Our Lady of Almudena will host this Saturday the ordination of seven new permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of Madrid. The celebration, which will begin at 19:00, will be presided over by Cardinal José Cobo.
According to information released by the Archdiocese of Madrid, the candidates reach this moment after several years of formation, discernment, and service in their respective parishes and ecclesial communities.
Seven candidates from diverse backgrounds
The new permanent deacons are Tomás Avilero Molina, Manuel Lorenzo García Sancet, José Martín Gutiérrez de Cabiedes, Gabriel Muriarte Solana, Javier Recio de la Cámara, José Ignacio Sarasúa Moreno, and Gabriel Solé Rojo.
The seven come from diverse professional fields and currently carry out their work in different pastoral realities of the diocese. Among them are teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, university professors, and healthcare management professionals.
Most are married and fathers of families, balancing their professional and family activities with collaboration in parishes, movements, and initiatives of a social and evangelizing nature.
Stories marked by the call to service
The testimonies released by the archdiocese reflect very different vocational journeys.
Tomás Avilero, a teacher at San Agustín School, highlights that the diaconate represents a call to service in a society marked by individualism. Gabriel Solé, an entrepreneur and father of eight children, recounts how his discernment process began during the 2020 lockdown. Javier Recio, a jurist and professor, links this new stage to the marital vocation he has lived with his wife for nearly three decades.
For his part, José Ignacio Sarasúa, a professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, describes the vocation as “a mystery that surpasses us” and states that he is living the days leading up to the ordination with a mixture of gratitude, respect, and trust.
Alongside them will be ordained Manuel Lorenzo García Sancet, a collaborator in several Madrid parishes; José Martín Gutiérrez de Cabiedes, an active member of the Parish of the Holy Redeemer; and Gabriel Muriarte Solana, founder of Hogar Mambré, an initiative providing shelter for young students in vulnerable situations.
A new ordination for the Church of Madrid
This Saturday’s celebration will incorporate seven new permanent deacons into the Archdiocese of Madrid. All of them have spent years carrying out pastoral tasks in their communities and will now assume a new ministry at the service of the Church in different areas of diocesan life.