On April 21, Monsignor Dominikus Schwaderlapp, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cologne, ordained deacons to Fathers Gabriel Wendt, LC, Raphael Ballestrem, LC, and Mariano Ballestrem, LC, at the Church of Santa María Asunta in Cologne. Family members, friends, and some members of Regnum Christi from Germany attended the ceremony.
In his homily, Monsignor Dominikus Schwaderlapp commented: «Serving means never seeing from above down, but always from below up: seeing God from below up. Seeing people from below up. Seeing the world from below up […]. We must be bridges over which people can reach God. We must be bridges through our service.»
«There are two words that for us, priests and shepherds, should no longer exist: first, “I don’t have time”; and second, “It’s not my turn.” It may be that sometimes we don’t have time, but then we should at least schedule a moment to talk with the person who needs us. “I don’t have time” is not an answer. It may be that there are people more capable than us to respond to a need, but I cannot say: “It’s not my turn.” I have to build a bridge to that person who can help better,» added Monsignor Dominikus Schwaderlapp.
Regarding his diaconal ordination, Father Mariano commented: «The ordination is not a goal but a beginning. Now begins the life of bringing Christ to many souls. Wherever He wants and however He wants.» On his part, Father Gabriel said: «Being a deacon is serving the people: in liturgical diaconate, in the diaconate of the Word, and in love. The idea of administering baptism, assisting at a wedding, or performing the funeral rites is very exciting to me. What makes these services so valuable is precisely that they bring God into the lives of men in a special way. This does not happen by a personal achievement; one can prepare oneself only in a very limited way for this. It is a mystery that is realized in us thanks to the Church and through the ordination.»
«The path to priesthood also means working on one’s own life and heart. That process is not always easy. Especially in difficult moments, it is important never to lose sight of the why. And the ultimate reason for my priestly vocation is basically that Christ invited me to live completely out of His love. Time and again I discover that this makes me happier than anything else. In the end, even the greatest difficulties fade before this happiness,» added Father Gabriel Wendt, LC.
Fr. Gabriel Wendt, LC. Born on June 12 in Göttingen, Germany. He grew up in a Catholic family environment (six children), but in an area with few Catholics. At 16, he spent a year in Mexico to learn Spanish. He encountered the Legion of Christ in 2005 during World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany. The following year, in 2006, he entered the novitiate at 19 years old. From there, he went on to study philosophy at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. From 2010 to 2013, he completed his apostolic internships as a novice assistant in Germany. After that, he returned to Rome to pursue a licentiate in philosophy and a bachelor’s degree in theology.
Father Mariano Ballestrem, LC. Born on November 13 in Bonn, Germany. He was one of the first members of ECYD in Germany and joined Regnum Christi in 2001. On February 2, 2006, he entered the Novitiate Center of Bad Münstereifel, where he made his first religious profession in 2008. From 2008 to 2010, he studied humanities in Salamanca, Spain. After completing this, he moved to Rome to study philosophy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum. In 2012, he began his apostolic internships in Germany. Three years later, he returned to Rome to begin his bachelor’s degree in theology.
Fr. Raphael Ballestrem, LC. Born on October 28 in München, Germany. He was a member of ECYD for four years. Subsequently, he joined Regnum Christi. He was responsible for an ECYD team and collaborated in evangelization missions of Regnum Christi. He was a collaborator in Düsseldorf before entering the Bad Münstereifel Novitiate Center on September 2, 2004. He studied humanities in Salamanca from 2006 to 2007. Then he moved to Rome to study philosophy. During his first year of internships, he served as a formator at the Vocational Center in Center Harbor, United States. Later, he was part of the formation team at the Vocational Center of Bad Münstereifel. In 2012, he returned to Rome to study for his licentiate in philosophy. From 2014 to 2015, he served again as a discipline prefect in Germany. In 2015, he returned to Rome to study theology at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum.
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