Fully aware that being a disciple of Christ means embracing the cross, Francisco Hernández stood before Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros and bound himself to Church service as a permanent deacon.

The Rite of Ordination of a Deacon took place June 21 during a Mass in Spanish at Immaculate Conception Church, Astoria.

“He was called by Jesus personally,” the bishop said of the ordinand.

The path to his diaconate was anything but simple.

Hernández started his diaconate training in 2008, with the full support of his wife, Juana Mitre.

The two had been active volunteers in their parish community in their native Puebla, Mexico, and continued their ministry when they moved to St. Patrick’s parish, L.I.C.

Therefore, when Francisco told his wife that he felt God was calling him to diaconate service, she invested herself in his new venture.

“She was my tutor,” Francisco said. “Before I presented my homework to my teacher, I first had to present it to her.”

Diaconate classes were open to both the candidates and their wives, and participation was encouraged from both.

“They always invited us in pairs,” Francisco said. “She took tests right alongside me and did better!”

Despite his strong start, Francisco nearly quit the program during his first year when he received the devastating news from Mexico that his father had died. He was distraught. He wanted to go back home and bury his father. He even bought an airplane ticket. However, he ultimately decided the price to go was too steep.

He was in the middle of getting his legal paperwork in order. Therefore if he were to leave, he would not be able to return, meaning he would not only have to discontinue his diaconate training, but he would also have to leave his wife and daughters. He could not abandon them, so he stayed. He could not be present for his mother, who had taken care of his father for nearly 20 years following a brain stroke.

During his second year of training, his mother died. He still could not go back to Mexico.

During his third year of training, his wife suffered a sudden brain stroke that put her in a coma.

The doctors braced the family for the worst-case scenario: Their wife and mother may live the rest of her days in a vegetative state. The damage to her brain was severe.

Just as the family was adjusting to their new reality, they received Juana’s GED certificate in the mail. She passed her exams.

For six months, the family visited Juana in a rehabilitation facility, coming home late at night and leaving again early in the morning. The strain became too great, and the decision was made to bring her home.

With the care of her family, Juana not only regained consciousness, she is now able to move her eyes, her head and her arms. She can respond to questions in the affirmative or negative and recognizes those around her.

“She fought,” Francisco said. “She is very strong.”

Because Juana requires 24-hour care, the family made sacrifices to personally care for her. She does have a home attendant, but family members are the main caregivers. Francisco started working as an independent contractor fixing air-conditioning units to allow for more flexibility. Their adult daughters, Reina Paula and Rosalia Ester, took a lighter college course load so they could minister to their mother. Francisco’s brother has also offered the family vital support.

“We do not do it out of obligation,” Francisco said. “We do it out of love.”

Francisco met his wife when he was eight years old. They married when he was 19.

“She is my friend and my wife,” he said.

He said she was a dedicated wife and a very strong woman who fought for things that were important to her. With all the care and love she poured into her family, now her family is taking care of her in her time of need.

Example of True Love

Francisco said part of what gives him the strength to stand by his wife is the example his mother gave him of what true marital love means when she took care of her husband. He tries to follow her example.

He said his family and his classmates have been a valuable support system through the ordeal.

“A lot of people helped us in this situation,” he said. “Being a deacon is having a beautiful family.”

However, Francisco said his greatest support has come from the Master of the universe.

“I found that the Lord is with me,” he said. “All things are through Him.”

Francisco said he realized that it is through suffering that he was able to come closer to God. He looked at Jesus’ example as testimony. When Jesus was teaching and healing, it was easy to be His disciple. However, in order to truly be His Apostles, the first disciples had to embrace His cross.

Although he said he does not know the reason for all his misfortune, Francisco believes that his suffering has been fundamental to his diaconate training.

“I realized that it is God who is preparing me,” he said.

It is with this faith that Francisco faced his last major hurdle in becoming a deacon. His legal paperwork still did not go through when his class was to be ordained in May, 2013, so he would have to wait.

“It’s not my time; it’s God’s time,” Francisco said. “I leave all difficult things to God.”

When his paperwork came through, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio gave special permission for Francisco to be ordained in his parish, Immaculate Conception.

Francisco believes his suffering has prepared him to better serve his community because he will be able to understand their struggles.

“I feel very proud,” said his daughter Reina, who served as a lector during his ordination. “There are no words that could express my joy.”

She said she is thankful to her father for having given her an example of what it means to take care of his family and what it means to serve the Church.

Bishop DiMarzio has assigned Deacon Hernandez to Immaculate Conception parish.