I would refer you to a wonderful story of a deacon’s vocation discernment in Afghanistan back in 2005. Deacon Catarino Villanueva was ordained to the diaconate in December 2010 for the diocese of Brownsville, Texas. He had served with Charlie Company 3/144 Infantry. During his deployment in 2005, he approached the chaplain’s assistant, Deacon Paul Rodriguez and told him he was thinking of the diaconate and began to help Deacon Rodriguez remodel the chapel. At the time, there was nothing there but a tent. They prayed the Liturgy of the Hours together. Deacon Villanueva’s time in Afghanistan made him appreciative of his religious freedom.
There is an interesting piece to the story. After the building of the chapel, Villanueva was worried about the tabernacle placed there, for he wanted to protect it. It was fairly rare for a Catholic priest to be assigned to the location, so he requested the tablernacle be sent home to him. Surprisingly, first a Eastern Rite priest followed and needed it, then a Polish priest followed after that. When it is no longer needed by a priest, it will be sent home.
As Deacon Villanueva said, “If you build it, they will come.”
You can read of this at: www.cns.com/data/briefs/cns/20111110.htm#head2
You can read even more of Deacon Villaneuva at the diocese of Brownsville website at: www.cdob.org/frontpage-news-items/340-faith-on-the-frontlines–
