The Diocese of Richmond announces that Bishop Elías Samuel Bolaños Avelar of Zacatecoluca, El Salvador, calls Seminarian Julio Reyes to Sacred Orders. Julio is cosponsored by the dioceses of Richmond and Zacatecoluca and will serve in the Diocese of Richmond upon ordination. Bishop Knestout will celebrate the Mass and Bishop Bolaños will confer the sacrament.
Julio’s home parish is Nuestra Señora del Rosario at El Rosario de la Paz in El Salvador. He moved to the United States in 2015 after an agreement was formed between the late Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo, then bishop of Richmond, and Bishop Elias S. Bolaños, bishop of Zacatecoluca.
Julio, who will turn 30 the week after he is ordained, is the oldest of Hernán Realegeño Gámez and Trinidad de Jesús Reyes de Realegeño’s three children.
He is currently in formation at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Fla.
The Mass at which Julio will be ordained a transitional deacon will be celebrated Sunday, Oct. 13, 5:15 p.m., at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond. All are welcome to attend.
The ordination Mass will be livestreamed for anyone unable to attend in person. The livestream feed will be available here prior to the beginning of Mass at 5:15 p.m.
Please continue to keep Julio and all those studying for the priesthood in your prayers.
Prayer for Vocations (from USCCB)
O God, Father of all Mercies,
Provider of a bountiful Harvest,
send Your Graces upon those
You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor;
preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.
Open the hearts of Your children
that they may discern Your Holy Will;
inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves
to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.
Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life
guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.
Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary,
all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers
and grant Your Church’s needs, through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.