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Bishop Burbidge ordains new transitional deacon Guillermo Gonzalez

Zoey Maraist | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Guillermo Gonzalez stands next to his parents Moises Amilcar Gonzalez Torres and María Kelly Cruz de Gonzalez during his ordination Mass at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax Jan. 26. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

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Diocesan priests process into St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax Jan. 26. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

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Guillermo Gonzalez lies prostrate before the altar during his ordination Mass at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax Jan. 26. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

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Bishop Michael F. Burbidge places his hands on Guillermo Gonzalez’s head during his ordination Mass at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax Jan. 26. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

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Deacon Guillermo Gonzalez blesses the altar with incense during his ordination Mass at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax Jan. 26. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

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Deacon Guillermo Gonzalez greets seminarians after his ordination Mass at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax Jan. 26. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

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Bishop Michael F. Burbidge ordained
Guillermo Gonzalez a transitional deacon at his home parish, St. Leo the Great
Church in Fairfax, Jan. 26. The church was filled with dozens of his fellow
seminarians, deacons, priests, friends, family and St. Leo parishioners. 

In his homily, Bishop Burbidge
encouraged Gonzalez to read the Bible, to pray daily and to proclaim the
Gospel. “Today, we celebrate your ‘yes’ and we pray that with the strength and
the graces of this sacrament and the help of our Blessed Mother, you will renew
that ‘yes’ every day, that you will be a faithful witness and an effective
herald of the Gospel as you go forth today as our newest deacon,” said Bishop
Burbidge.

His ordination fell on “Sunday of the
Word of God,” a remembrance of the importance of sacred Scripture instituted by
Pope Francis this year. Bishop Burbidge asked all present to give the Bible a more
prominent place in their homes and hearts. He asked Gonzalez to prepare fully the
homilies he will give as a deacon and hopefully soon as a priest. “You must
contemplate the word of God,” said Bishop Burbidge. “You must continue to study
sacred scripture but above all remember what St. Paul says, ‘Whoever preaches,
let it be the words of God.’ ”

Then, Bishop Burbidge laid his hands on
Gonzalez’s head and recited the prayer of ordination. Father Joel D. Jaffe, pastor
of Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling, vested him with a stole and
dalmatic. Then, Deacon Gonzalez knelt before Bishop Burbidge, who placed the
book of Gospels in his hands. “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become,” said Bishop Burbidge. “Believe what you read, teach what you
believe and practice what you teach.”

Deacon Gonzalez was born March 17, 1989, to Moises Amilcar Gonzalez Torres and María Kelly Cruz
de Gonzalez in Sonsonate, El Salvador. His family moved to the United
States when he was a teen. He graduated from Westfield High School in Chantilly
in 2008. 

His mother María Kelly remembers that
her son was close to God in El Salvador, and he continued practicing his faith
after they immigrated. He told his parents he wanted to be a priest in 2008. After
high school, he entered seminary for the Community of the Disciples of the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary, studying at San Damaso Ecclesiastical University in
Madrid and serving in various pastoral assignments in Spain and Colorado. 

Beginning in 2016, he spent a year
studying at The Catholic University of America in Washington in order to be
closer to home as his father battled stomach cancer and as he and his family
mourned the death of his older brother, Emerson. In 2017, he discerned out of
the order and entered formation for the Diocese of Arlington.

He finished his theology degree in
Madrid and currently is earning his master’s degree at Mount St. Mary’s
Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., while serving weekends at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Church in Winchester.

Deacon Gonzalez’s mother said she felt
excited and emotional after witnessing her son’s ordination. “(My husband and
I) are very grateful to the Arlington Diocese because it was a blessing for us that
the diocese supported him,” she said.

This story has been updated. 

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