Bishop Mark Seitz ordained five men to the priesthood on May 27, 2022. It was the first time since 1993 that the Diocese of El Paso has ordained five men together. Now they’re ready to serve. We have the details on their first assignment.

The newly ordained priests will serve as parochial vicars at parishes across the Diocese.

Beginning July 1, 2022, Father Astry Déraly will begin his priestly vocation at St. Matthew; Father César García-Ortega at St. Mark; Father Edroud Jean heads to St. Raphael; Father José William Arévelo Narváez, St. Patrick Cathedral; and Father Sergio Legarreta Carrasco, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini.

The generosity of many donors, large and small, made the education of these five men possible. The Seminarian Education Endowment Fund was created to ensure continual resources for the recruitment and training of seminarians to serve as the future leadership of our diocese.

The Seminarian Education Endowment Fund is a primary area of focus of the Catholic Foundation. Inviting more men to discern their priestly vocation is a top priority of the Diocese. Recruiting and educating seminarians is a significant and critical investment. The responsibility of providing priests for the Diocese of El Paso, both spiritually and financially, belongs to all of us.

When men are ordained for the Diocese of El Paso, they will serve the Diocese of El Paso. These men have made a lifelong commitment to our diocese. We ask for your continued prayers and support.

“Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 2:4-5

Photo Credit: Ale Saldaña Photography