By Alfonso Aguilar
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/9/05)

Puerto Rican Deacon Ramón Báez will be among the first Hispanic priests to be ordained to the priesthood in the diocese. The soon-to-be priest was ordained to the diaconate last year by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.

Once again, this Saturday Báez and three other deacons will stand in front of the bishop for their consecration to the priesthood at the Cathedral.

"I am deeply emotional, extremely happy, for my family, for my diocese and for our community," said Báez, a former Navy Lieutenant. In that capacity, Báez traveled around the world for eight years.

"After seeing the world from heaven and earth, I realized that my real vocation was a consecrated life," Báez said.

"I envision my ordination as a symbol to encourage vocations in our community, in particular with young Hispanics. I see my ordination and any other ordination either to the diaconate or to the priesthood as the beginning of something relevant for the diocese and for the community," said Báez last Saturday, after attending the Ordination to the Diaconate Mass at the Cathedral.

"He is going to be a good priest. He has many assets — young, bilingual, bicultural, humble and well-disposed toward everyone," said Father José Eugenio Hoyos, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Dale City and the priest who inspired Báez to pursue a consecrated life.

Sister Eloína Alvarez from the Poor Sisters of St. Joseph expressed similar thoughts about Báez. "Ramón will be an inspiration for our youth, a role-model. He has a very happy personality. Ramón will be an excellent priest, in particular for our Hispanic community."

"I feel very happy," said Báez. "I am waiting for this day in my life."