Deacon Jender A. Medina Palencia reached another milestone in his miraculous journey as a Catholic and Paterson Diocesan seminarian when Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained him to the transitional diaconate on June 14. A former atheist, this Colombian native took his last step before being called to ordination as a priest next year by being ordained a deacon during Mass that day at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque.
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was the principal celebrant and homilist of the English and Spanish Mass with concelebrating priests. Deacon Medina’s friends, religious of the diocese, deacons, members of parishes he served, and diocesan faithful attended the ordination to offer him their support. His family watched from Colombia via livestream.
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Deacon Medina said he is “excited” to accept his new diaconal ministry. He spent his pastoral year at St. Francis Parish, delivering reflections after Mass on Friday and teaching fourth-grade religious education.
“I think about when I entered the seminary in Colombia. That was many years ago. I’m proud of myself. I came to the United States from another country, not knowing the language. It hasn’t been easy. But in a year, I will be a priest. God has helped me all this time,” said Deacon Medina, born in Cúcuta, Colombia, to Carlos Ariel Medina Pérez and Ligia Rosa Palencia Camacho. “As a deacon, I’m most excited to preach. It’s a special moment for the preacher to have that contact with people to talk to about the Church’s teachings and traditions and the word of God.”
Deacon Medina, 36, said he’s excited to carry out the other responsibilities of a deacon. Deacons also distribute the Eucharist, teach Holy Doctrine, prepare for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and preside over or assist with baptisms, marriages, funerals, and public prayers. A deacon also carries out acts of charity in the name of the bishop or pastor.
From 15 to 26 years old, Deacon Medina was an atheist. But one night, while watching TV, he “felt the need to pray. I fought those thoughts. I said, ‘I don’t believe in God.'” Then, he prayed the Our Father but didn’t remember all the words. Deacon Medina didn’t know his mother consecrated him to Christ through the Blessed Mother at a prayer meeting that night. Then, he started praying.
“After that, my life changed. I was at peace and happy,” Deacon Medina said.
Later, during a Mass, Deacon Medina felt a call to the priesthood. He said, “No,” because he is thinking about marriage and family with his now-former girlfriend. But later, he answered, “Yes,” — “if it’s God’s will.” He studied in a seminary for almost two years in Colombia. Then, Deacon Medina listened to a Paterson priest speak at his seminary about coming to the diocese to pursue the priesthood. He discerned by listening to God. Deacon Medina was accepted into Paterson’s program and arrived in the diocese in 2019.
Deacon Medina will serve his diaconal year at St. Margaret of Scotland in Morristown. He will enter his final year of theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange.
In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told Deacon Medina, “Now you are not only a hearer of the Gospel but also its minister. Hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience. Express by your actions the word of God which your lips proclaim, so that the Christian people, brought to life by the Spirit, may be a pure offering accepted by God.”
