On January 17, the Carmelites of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary and their friends celebrated the Solemn Profession of Santos Cecilio Hernandez, O. Carm., as a Carmelite. Many of the faithful who have been a part of Cecilia’s journey in Carmel filled the chapel along with members of his family to witness the celebration.

The Prior Provincial, the Very Rev. William J. Harry, O. Carm., was the main celebrant joined by three other Carmelites who now work in El Salvador: Fr. Alfredo Guillen, O. Carm. (Prior and Director of Formation); Luis Jesus Paz, O. Carm., (Vocation Director and professor at the University of Central America); and Benjamin Salas, O. Carm., (Director of the Association of Our Lady of Mount Carmel). Fr. Paul Henson, O. Carm., Provincial Director of Vocationas and Provincial Counselor, also concelebrated. Many other Carmelites, religious and lay, also were present.

In his homily, the provincial stressed the moments we know from the life of Elijah are good examples for each of us who promises to follow “in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.” Unfortunately, we have heard these readings so often that we miss their importance or their message for us today. We hear over and over that God speaks to us in the ordinary moments of life but we rarely take the time to allow those experiences to be noted in our lives. He then challenged Cecilio, as he would shortly become a solemnly professed member of the community, to remember and believe that God always provides for the journey he calls us to undertake. The commitment that each of us makes is tested and purified. But it is never beyond our abilities. God remains with us throughout.

Over 100 young people, members of the Carmelite Youth, also Carmel filled heading off to Panama for the 2019 World Youth Day. At the end of the Mass, the Prior Provincial gave them a blessing. Many were enrolled in the brown scapular.

Members of the choir from Nuestra Señora de Lourdes provided the music during the celebration. At the end, they treated those remaining to several encore songs.

The hospitalito, where the Mass and profession were held, is the chapel where St. Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass.

On Saturday, January 19, Mons. Oswaldo Escobar, OCD, ordained Santos Cecilio Hernandez to the diaconate. The ceremony took place in the chapel of the Colegio de las Hermanas Carmelitas Misioneras de Santa Teresa de San Marcos. Following the ceremony a dinner was offered to those who attended hosted by the sisters.

In his homily, Mons Escobar explained each of the ministries that a deacon is involved in. At the beginning, he wanted to show the variety of people that Cecilio has touched in his life. So he called out the various regions of El Salvador. People had come from far and wide to be present. He said it was a testament to Cecilio and the Carmelites ministry in El Salvador that in such a short time we had impacted people from such a wide area of the country.

On January 17, the Prior Provincial, the Very Rev. William J. Harry, O. Carm., receives the Solemn Vows of Santos Cecilio Hernandez, O. Carm., during a celebration at the Hospitalito of Divina Providencia of the Discalced Carmelite Sisters. The chapel was the site of the assassination of St. Oscar Romero while he was celebrating Mass.

Musicians from the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Lourdes in Ciudad Delgado provided excellent music for the profession of Santos Cecilio Hernandez, O. Carm.

Bishop Oswaldo Escobar, OCD, Bishop of Chatalanango, imposes his hands on Santos Cecilia Hernandez for his ordination as a deacon. The servers at the Mass are the brothers of Manuel Santos, who is in the Carmelite novitiate in Peru. The ordination took place on January 19, 2019.

The newly ordained deacons distributes communion to the faithful who came to witness his ordination.

The newly ordained and his parents, Santos and Olivia, enjoy some Cafe Carmelita following a delicious meal offered by the Discalced Carmelite sisters who hosted the ordination in their school chapel.

Some of the guests for Cecilio’s diaconate ordination on January 19 in San Salvador, El Salvador, enjoying a meal following the ceremony.