By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
This article was posted before the deacons were ordained Dec. 16, 2023. Coverage of the ordination ceremony will be posted later. The headline has been changed to reflect that they are no longer "soon-to-be" new deacons.
MIAMI | Archbishop Thomas Wenski is scheduled to ordain eight men to the diaconate this Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
Deacons who do not go on to become priests – commonly called permanent deacons – can be married at the time of their ordination. If unmarried, they take a vow of celibacy.
The duties of deacons include ministering at the altar, preaching, singing the Gospel at high Mass and assisting the celebrant in general. Deacons can also baptize, witness marriages and administer Communion, though they cannot consecrate the Eucharist, hear confessions, or give absolution.
Here are brief biographies of the new deacons.
Nicolas Ramos Diaz
Photographer: FILE
Nicolas Diaz, from St. Hugh Parish in Coconut Grove, will be ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Miami Dec. 16, 2023.
A native of Havana, Cuba, Ramos, 53, was baptized at the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad in Havana. He received the sacraments of reconciliation, first Communion and confirmation at St. Agnes Church in Key Biscayne. He and his wife, Juanita, were married at San Luis Rey Church, Cat Cay, Bahamas, 18 years ago. They have two children, Ines Cristina and Andrea Margarita. Ramos is a tree farmer whose home parish is St. Hugh in Coconut Grove.
Jorge Abraham Escobar
Photographer: FILE
Jorge Escobar, from St. John Neumann Parish in Miami, will be ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Miami Dec. 16, 2023.
Escobar, 52, is a businessman who was born in San Salvador, El Salvador. He was baptized at the parish of El Señor del Calvario in San Miguel, El Salvador, and received the sacraments of reconciliation, first Communion and confirmation in the Diocese of San Vicente, El Salvador. He and his wife, Glenda, received the sacrament of matrimony at Corazón de María parish in San Salvador, El Salvador. They have been married for 29 years and have one son, Jorge. Escobar’s home parish in St. John Neumann in Miami.
Andrew Scott Hernandez
Photographer: FILE
Andrew Hernandez, from St. Augustine Parish in Coral Gables, will be ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Miami Dec. 16, 2023.
Hernandez, 46, was born in Miami, and baptized at St. Raymond Church. He received the sacraments of reconciliation, first Communion, confirmation and marriage at St. Louis Church in Pinecrest. A construction project manager, he has been married to Angela for 22 years and they have four children, Abby, Andrew, Ava, and Antonio. His home parish is St. Augustine in Coral Gables.
Victor Manuel Martinez
Photographer: FILE
Victor Martinez, from St. Gregory the Great Parish in Plantation, will be ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Miami Dec. 16, 2023.
Martinez, 62, was born in the Bronx, New York. He was baptized at St. Philip Neri Church there and received the sacraments of reconciliation and first Communion at Christ the King Church, also in the Bronx. He was confirmed and married at St. Matthew Church in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. A business owner, he has been married to Kimberly Anne for 39 years. They have three children, Matthew, Victor, and Raquel. His home parish is St. Gregory the Great in Plantation.
Magodage Srinath Manjula Perera
Photographer: FILE
Srinath Perera, from Little Flower Parish in Coral Gables, will be ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Miami Dec. 16, 2023.
Perera, 50, is an accountant born in Gampaha, Sri Lanka. He received the sacraments of baptism, reconciliation, first Communion and confirmation at Holy Cross Church in Gampha, Colombo, Sri Lanka; and matrimony at All Saints Church in Borella, Colombo, Sri Lanka. He has been married to Dona Chulie for 20 years. Their home parish is Little Flower in Coral Gables.
Robert James Puyada
Photographer: FILE
Robert Puyada, from Blessed Trinity Parish in Virginia Gardens, will be ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Miami Dec. 16, 2023.
Puyada, 63, was born in Havana, Cuba. He was baptized at the parish of San Antonio Abad in Havana, and received the sacraments of reconciliation, first Communion and confirmation at St. Cecilia Church Hialeah. He and his wife of 41 years, María Elena, were married at St. Mary Cathedral in Miami. Puyada works as a project manager. His home parish is Blessed Trinity in Virginia Gardens.
Robert Xavier Velez
Photographer: FILE
Robert Velez, from St. Timothy Parish in Miami, will be ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Miami Dec. 16, 2023.
Velez, 56, was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and works in marketing. He was baptized at Immaculate Conception Church in Hackensack, New Jersey; received the sacraments of reconciliation, first Communion and confirmation at Christ the King Church in Miami; and was married to Paulina 25 years ago at the parish of El Cristo de Miravalle in Quito, Ecuador. His home parish is St. Timothy in Miami.
Charles Villar
Photographer: FILE
Charles Villar, from Our Lady of Guadalupe in Doral, will be ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Miami Dec. 16, 2023.
Villar, 52, was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, and baptized at Sts. Peter and Paul Church there. He received the sacraments of reconciliation, first Communion and confirmation at St. Nicholas Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. He and his wife of 20 years, Sandra, were married at Little Flower Church in Coral Gables. They have three children, Gabriel, Gianna, and Juliana. He works in business development and his home parish isOur Lady of Guadalupe in Doral.
