Bishop Larry Silva ordained two Kauai men permanent deacons on Feb. 19 at Immaculate Conception Church in Lihue.
Alejandrino A. Ragasa Jr. and Averiet A. Soto were the last in the diocese’s newest class of 13 to receive the laying on of hands.
Deacon Ragasa is a parishioner at Immaculate Conception. Soto is a member of Holy Cross Parish in Kalaheo.
The others in the group, called Cohort Nine, were ordained in ceremonies Jan. 8 and 9 on Oahu and Jan. 30 on the Big Island.
Deacon Ragasa, 59, was born and raised in Kohala on the Big Island. He is married to Inocenta Ragasa and has two daughters and two stepsons. He is employed at Koga Engineering and Construction Inc. as a project engineer, project manager, island manager and vice president.
Soto, 66, was born and raised on the Omao homestead near Koloa, Kauai. He and his wife Debra have four daughters. He retired in 2017 after 30 years as a program manager and division head with the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility.
The others in Cohort Nine are Kin Shing Cheng, Joel Y. Narusawa, Jonathan T. Lam, Renier L. Torres, Savili A. Bartley, Jeffrey L. Calamayan, Henry D. Costales, Reynaldo V. Dinulong, Sandor Hernandez Morales, Charles W. Mapa and George G. Wood.
The diaconate is one of the church’s three holy orders, the others being priest and bishop. The “permanent” diaconate, unlike the “transitional” diaconate, does not lead to priesthood and is open to married men.
Deacons may read the Gospel, preach and assist the celebrant priest at liturgical events. They also witness church weddings and preside at baptisms and funerals among other duties.
Hawaii’s first class of permanent deacons was ordained in 1981. The next diaconate class, cohort 10, is already in formation and is scheduled for ordination in 2024.