At 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 13, 2020, Friar Domicio Ramón MOLINA PÉREZ, of the Provincial Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto in Venezuela was ordained a priest by the imposition of hands and the consecratory prayer of the Most Reverend José de la Trinidad VALERA ANGULO, Bishop of Guanare, Venezuela. The ordination took place at the San José Obrero Church in Guanare.
Those attending the celebration included the Provincial Custos, Friar Franklin Antonio DURÁN ZAMBRANO along with the friars of the various friaries in the Custody (Caracas, Guanare, Barinas, Pueblo Llano and Palmira). Also present were some members of the diocesan clergy and the faithful from the San José Obrero Church in Guanare, the Beata Virgen María Auxiliadora Church in Barinas and the San Francisco Javier Church in Caracas.
In his homily, Bishop underlined the question that John the Baptist was asked in the Gospel: “Who are you?” (John 1:19). Bishop VALERA ANGULO exhorted the friar being ordained and those present to follow the example of humility of St. John the Baptist, who testified firmly: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord”’ (John 1:23). With those words, John the Baptist not only showed that he clearly understood his mission, he also made every effort to avoid succumbing to the temptation of pride. As Christians, we are called to follow the example of this saint and try to answer the question “Who am I?” This teaches us the art of discerning God’s will and leads us to discover our mission in the world, namely, to proclaim the Word of salvation and to be instruments of peace in God’s hands. The bishop concluded his homily by addressing the friar being ordained, saying: “Friar Domicio, I invite you to carry out your priestly mission with the mentality of humility and the perpetual discernment of God’s will.”
At the end of the celebration, the Provincial Custos thanked Bishop VALERA ANGULO for presiding over the solemn Mass and for his support for our Order in Venezuela, and for our confreres in charge of the San José Obrero Church in particular. The Custos also thanked all those present for having guided and supported Friar Domicio along his vocational journey. The newly ordained Friar Domicio, in turn, thanked everyone for their support, for participating in the celebration, and for their prayers, which have always guided him.
Friar Juan Gregorio MARTÍNEZ CANELÓN, Custodial Secretary
