JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz ordained seven men to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Jackson on July 18, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson. In the following profiles, the new deacons share their vocation stories, the people and experiences that shaped their faith, and their hopes for serving the people of the diocese.
DEACON ENRIQUE AMADOR
Assigned: St. James, Corinth
Spouse: Carolina Fierro-Amador
Hometown: Veracruz, Mexico / Tupelo, Mississippi
Were you raised Catholic, or did you convert to the faith? I was raised Catholic.
Can you share a moment or journey that deepened your faith or drew you closer to the Church? Although I was raised Catholic, my religious life consisted of social events. When I met my high school sweetheart (my now wife), and wanted to ask her out for a date, she asked me to meet her in the 8am Mass at the Cathedral of our hometown. Since then, God used her to bring me closer to him and to grow in my Catholic faith.
Would you share your vocation story – how did you get called to the diaconate? Many years ago, while I was studying an evangelization course program with the SouthEast Pastoral Institute (SEPI), one of the professors was a Deacon. I liked the way he taught us. He was smiling all the time; He was joyous not only about being a professor, but about living his faith, and most specifically about being a deacon. This was my first contact with the ministry of the diaconate. Years later, while studying practical theology with Loyola University New Orleans, and serving in my parish at Tupelo, one priest asked me if I had considered to be a deacon; my answer was: I have not. However, the question remained in my mind, and I started praying about it, above all, before the Blessed Sacrament. Later, I was still serving in different ministries at my parish, and I asked another priest about how to become a permanent deacon. He explained to me about the diaconate ministry and recommended to ask God before the Blessed Sacrament, if He wanted me to become one. I prayed about it for some more months until I felt what I thought was God’s call to do it. I talked about it with my pastor; he agreed with me and supported me to start the process. Since I met the SEPI’s professor to the moment I submitted my application to be considered for the diaconate program, about ten years had passed.
Where do you feel most called to serve as a deacon? (For example: charity, preaching, family ministry, etc.). I feel most called to serve as a deacon in preaching, family ministry, couples, youth, confirmation class.
How has your parish community supported you on this journey? My community has been very supporting through prayers, loving encouraging expressions, some guidance and heartily acceptance. After I was instituted as a Lector and as Minister of Holy Communion, they let me serve in those ministries. Also, they outspokenly cheer me up with prayers and encouraging words.
What has been most challenging or surprising during this journey? The most challenging part during this journey has been the formation studies with their heavy workload of assignments, because sometimes we had two or even three courses at the same time. The most surprising thing during this journey has been the outstanding assistance of the Holy Spirit to finish my studies, the profound knowledge I have acquired, and most especially, the way God has been molding me to be his servant. I feel more at peace and sure about myself than before.
What would you say to someone who might be feeling called to the diaconate? I would tell him that the diaconate is a great journey with hard but worthy formation. Also, I would say to him that he will learn and understand more about his faith for sure, and that it is a great blessing to be a servant of God. I would suggest to him to keep praying and asking God before the Blessed Sacrament if this call is for him. Finally, I would assure him that he will not be alone on this journey. I will affirm to him that many people will show him love, support and guidance for him to become a deacon; that his parish community, the professors, the other deacons, the priests and our Bishop will be praying and accompanying him along the way because we all are one same community of family and friends.
Do you have a favorite Scripture passage and why? My favorite Scripture passage is Rom 8:28, because it reminds me that everything that happens to me will be for my own good, if I love God. This biblical passage gives me peace and trust in God.
Who is your favorite saint and why? Saint Theresa of Lisieux, the Little Flower. She is the patron saint of Missions. Eight years after a vasectomy, my wife and I got three miscarriages. We prayed to the Little Flower to intercede for us in having a baby, now that we discovered the vasectomy had naturally reverted, and she did! We had two more babies. The first one of those has her name: Teresita de Jesus.
Do you have a favorite religious image or devotion and why? One of my favorite devotions is praying the rosary. This prayer helps me to be at peace and to keep me accountable of my actions. Also, I know for a fact that it is a powerful prayer for difficult cases.
What is your favorite liturgy of the year and why? My favorite liturgy of the year is the Easter Vigil celebration, because it is beautiful and deeply symbolic of our daily spiritual life with the candles in darkness, the blessing of the fire, and the welcoming to new Catholics to our Church.
What is something people might be surprised to learn about you? People might be surprised to discover that I am a very reserved person. I get nervous when I need to talk in front of many people, even if I have done it before. I used to, generally, force myself to do it.
Any children? (if you want it printed).
Yarah, José Enrique, Teresita de Jesús and Juan Francisco, Amador-Fierro.
In heaven: Dulce Maria, Carolina Isabel, Guillermo, Rogelio.
Deacon’s wives questions:
Name (as you want it printed): Carolina Fierro-Amador
What did you think when your husband first began to consider ordination? I thought it was a privilege and felt happy and blessed.
How has this journey shaped your marriage and your family life? Wow, what can I say? This journey has been transformational for my husband and I right from the beginning. It has given us resilience, clarity, and courage to make changes that we had thought of making but never did before. It also prepared us to face extremely difficult family situations that shook us and could potentially break us. Most especially, it has made us humbler to recognize our dependence on God, our limitations, and our fragilities.
How has your parish supported your family during this time? The parish has been very generous and open to giving my husband plenty of opportunities to strengthen his formation. The parish community, the people of the pews, have been amazingly encouraging and loving towards all of us.
What has been most challenging or surprising during this journey? The most surprising thing has been my direct witnessing of the hard and complex formation that the diaconate life implicates. At the same time, it has been one of the most challenging things as well, because of the time, money and effort invested in the process by both my husband and me.
Do you have a favorite Scripture passage and why? Deuteronomy 6:4-9 because it grounds me on the most important and basic things in life. It gives me direction, peace, and encouragement to continue being loyal to God regardless of the difficulties I face.
Who is your favorite saint and why? Saint Jean-Marie Vianney because he showed me with his life what to do fighting for the people around me, even if they do not want to get closer to God.
Do you have a favorite religious image or devotion and why? Praying the Prayer of the Hours is one of my favorite devotions because it is a powerful experience to know that the universal Church is praying together in the silence and intimacy of ordinary life. Most especially, it has had a mysterious unifying effect in my marriage since my husband and I pray it together. There are two prayers within the breviary that I hold close to my heart and constantly pray them: 1) “Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and sleep, rest in his peace.” 2) “Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you; our lives proclaim your goodness; our works give you honor, and our voices celebrate you forever.”
What is your favorite liturgy of the year and why? Easter Vigil Mass is my favorite liturgy of the year because the remembrance of God’s love for us through the readings fills me with joy and hope. The symbolism and beauty throughout the celebration leave me in awe, reverence, and gratitude for being part of such a perfect Church regardless.