Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

The word deacon (diakonia) means service — in ministry to others — and that service most often starts at home. In this three-part series, the Florida Catholic will introduce you to three diaconate families and explore how this vocation impacts lives.

ORLANDO | Both brothers-in-law were away from the Church. God found them and not only drew them close but called them into the diaconate. Deacon Wilmar Rojas was ordained in 2018 and Deacon John Rivas in 2024.

“If (God) comes to clean a house, He’s going into every nook and cranny. He’s not going to leave anything unholy. I always banked on that,” said Deacon Rojas of the conversion of heart his family experienced.

Deacon Rojas’ wife, Martha, was “culturally devout.” She grew up Catholic and spent much time participating in church activities with her best friend. “But when we got married, I drew her away from it, unknowingly,” Deacon Rojas recalled. “We moved to Orlando and thought, this is how you live in the U.S.”

The couple would return to Colombia every summer and Martha would reconnect, participate in prayer groups, come back on fire, then return “to the same coldness here — just work, work, work.” Every year she would invite him to join the prayer group. “I didn’t want any of it,” he said.

One summer, everything changed. The ladies prayed over him and with him. He recalled feeling hot, crowded and uncomfortable. They asked if he ever professed Jesus as his Savior. “It felt very Protestant. So I said ‘no,’ not realizing any time I went to Mass and professed the Creed, I did,” he said. Repeating after them, he invited the Lord into his heart and began crying.

After hours of praying one of the women told him: “The Lord needs you. The Lord wants you and has a plan for you. When you go back home, you’re going to get an invitation to go to a community.”

“It was like a veil had been removed for me,” Deacon Rojas remembered. “I had been checking the boxes but right there and then I realized I had never felt the Lord like this in my life.”

The couple returned and became involved in their parish. They went to Renovación Conjugal—a marriage retreat—and later Deacon Rojas participated in a Juan XXIII retreat thanks to his mother Gloria Rojas—the family’s strongest prayer warrior—it was another brick in the foundation the Lord was laying.

Soon after Father David Scotchie asked him to consider the diaconate By then Deacon Rojas had seen God at work in his life so clearly he gave his full surrender.

His sister Leidy Rivas—and her husband John—frequently took Deacon Rojas’s children during diaconate formation weekends The two noticed changes within themselves through witnessing those made by their brother's journey.

One day Leidy confided: "I feel like I'm missing something but can't quite put my finger on it; We have everything society says we should yet there's still emptiness" Pausing she added through tears: "I remember simply answering 'Christ isn't centered'"

“Well how do I get Him here?” she asked; Her brother advised starting prayers for herself John & kids plus attending Mass regularly

“I started falling deeply love liturgy Word” Leidy stated enrolling children faith formation continuing solo before eventually attending Juan XXIII retreat

“At time wasn’t onboard” acknowledged now-Deacón-John-Rivas admitting atheistic tendencies caused marital discord given wife's spiritual fervor nearly leading divorce;

Convinced if husband attended similar-retreat he'd experience change-of-heart--she trusted voice saying patience persistence ultimately paying-off despite risks knowing Johnny deep-down cared;

Encouraged by Fr Jorge Torres John agreed attend under conditions someone accompany him ensuring post-retreat unchanged beliefs meant never discussing-God-home-again

Reflecting later shared admiration wife-trust unwavering commitment inspiring

During retreat significant-time spent Eucharistic Adoration kneeling opened heart mind addressing existential questions eliminating doubts finding peace clarity realizing importance moving forward Christ-centered direction family-journey regretful past-behavior grateful wife saving soul recognizing divine-intervention;

At celebratory-event honoring Wilmar meeting Alan Espinosa sparked unexpected inquiry regarding potential-dioconal-path initially dismissed yet persistent nudges led eventual acceptance culminating Rise Up Men’s Retreat prompting self-reflection decision embrace calling recalling inspirational Parkes-brothers example confirming possibility multiple vocations within-family;

Six-year formation-period mutual-support maintained independent journeys resulting profound personal growth cherished ordination-moment symbolizing shared-struggles triumphs reinforcing familial bonds establishing legacy future-generations inspiration unity solidarity commitment serving-community faithfully living exemplifying authentic-faith

Glenda Meekins - Florida Catholic Staff - September 19 2024

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