South Texas Catholic - June 2012

riesthood last time he had done that.

Losing the homeless man for a moment, he lay down and closed his eyes.

When he sat up a few moments later he saw the homeless man with the yellow balloon join other homeless people under a bridge. They were singing “Happy Birthday” to one of their friends.

“Wow! They were able to be happy.

Here I was feeling so incomplete and these people were able to find joy, friendships and companionship. That was my proof of God. Every single day he gave me gifts and I never saw them.

“Suddenly, I felt so reassured. God was reminding me, you are my son and I’m still taking care of you. I felt so complete. This was the greatest moment in my life,” he said.

His vocation became clear. He was a child of God. His mission was to share that joy.

“I was also reminded of a truth I once held as a child –God will make this well at the end. This is the source of joy for the Christian, to know that God takes care of us as a father cares for his children. I finally understood the nature of my call at that moment; I am to share the joy that comes from being a beloved child of God,” he said.

The bishop has assigned Deacon Becerra to serve as parochial deacon at St. Philip the Apostle parish in Corpus Christi, effective June 4-Aug. 3. He will then return to St. Mary’s Seminary in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston for his final year. He will be assigned to St. Martha Parish in Kingwood for two weekends a month.

Christopher Becerra became the diocese’s newest transitional deacon on May 26. God willing he will be ordained a priest next year.

Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic