Steven Chabarria, a seminarian of the Diocese of Tyler, was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Joseph Strickland on May 28, 2022 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler.
In his homily, Bishop Strickland said, “We must all recognize that Jesus Christ is diakonia.” Diakonia and diakonos, the root words for deacon, are Greek words meaning “service” and “servant.”
Bishop Strickland continued, “His entire incarnation, from the moment of his conception until his death on the cross and his resurrection, and finally his ascension to the Father…Jesus Christ is that life of service. That model of giving that will inspire you, Steven, and inspires all of us as the mystical Body of Christ.”
Bishop Strickland also encouraged the new deacon to welcome the foundation the diaconate will provide for his priesthood, saying, “Steven you are being ordained to the diaconate in a transitional step toward priestly orders. I urge you to embrace this foundation of your priestly ministry. This approximate year of diakonia will go swiftly in your life. It will be busy days. But I encourage you in prayer, in ministry, in service, that you constantly remind yourself that you are laying the foundation for a lifetime of priesthood that must always return to those basic ideas of diakonia.”
Chabarria recently completed his third year of theological studies at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He will return for one more year of studies and spiritual formation before being ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Tyler.
You can find more pictures from Deacon Steven Chabarria’s diaconate ordination here.
