Bay City Tribune

One of Bay City's finest, used to being a public servant, was ordained as a deacon in the Catholic Church and will become a servant to the congregation of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Bay City.

Joe Ramos, Bay City Police Department animal control officer, was ordained as a deacon in the Catholic Church by Most Reverend Bishop David Fellhauer at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral in Victoria on Saturday, Dec. 19.

Ramos, along with his wife Letisia, enrolled in the diaconate program for the Diocese of Victoria in December of 2003.

They attended academic classes on the weekends for the past six years.

"At times our studies were very challenging but somehow it always worked out," said Ramos.

"One thing I remember hearing from our Spiritual Director was that we could know a lot academically but it was most important for our spiritual formation that we must spend many hours at the feet of the Master our Lord Jesus Christ."

"I have come to believe this with all of my heart," said Ramos.

Ramos credited the diaconate program with bringing he and his wife closer as a couple.

"I feel that my wife and I have grown so much spiritually but this journey has also blessed our marriage and brought us closer together," he said.

Ramos thanked his family and friends for supporting him while he completed the diaconate program and helping take care of their daughter Stephanie.

Many important influences throughout the course of his life inspired him to take on this spiritual journey, he said.

He said his parents' teaching him to "love God above everything else" was the beginning of that journey.

"I can now see that all of the priests and nuns that served our parish have impacted my life," he said.

Ramos said he thanked his pastor Father Gerry Cernoch for his prayers and support.

"But most of all his beautiful example to us all," he said.

He also thanked Deacon Luan Tran and his parish family and friends for always offering their kind words of encouragement.

He said his bosses and supervisors at the police department were very cooperative and encouraging to him in the process as well.

"They were very supportive in working with me when my work schedule needed to be adjusted," he said.

"The Bay City Police Department family is very proud of Joe," said Lt. Andrew Lewis, Bay City Police Department spokesman.

"We often look to Joe for spiritual leadership."

"The biblical Greek word for service is 'Diakonia' and that is what I ask our Lord Jesus Christ to help me to be a good servant of the people.," said Ramos.