ORLANDO | They love each other and the Lord, but Deacons Noel Oteyza and Edgar Jecino admit their wives, Karyl and Lynette, truly helped them grow in the faith.

The sisters grew up in a devout Catholic family in the Philippines. When they moved to the United States, they remained steadfast to the Church and quickly became involved.

Deacon Oteyza remembers joining his bride at Eucharistic Adoration before daybreak when they were dating. His efforts to protect her led him to a deeper relationship with Christ.

“I wasn’t as strong in my faith until I met Karyl,” Deacon Oteyza remembered. “Through Karyl and the Sacrament of Marriage, my faith grew more into discerning the diaconate.”

When the challenging call came, he felt unqualified and had false perceptions of what a deacon should be.

“But then you see how the Lord forms you when you allow Him to do it,” he shared. “You always have doubts, but then when you’re called; you humbly ask the Lord to help you through formation and to help change you. It’s surrender. It’s not what I want. It’s what the Lord wants.”

Even now, Deacon Oteyza is learning from other deacons, religious, and clergy to radiate joy in all he does. “I’m not there yet,” he said.

Karyl knew it would be hard as well and the call was unexpected. When Karyl asked her sister, Lynette, to pray for them, she said, “Sure. I’m glad it’s you and not us.” Lynette never thought her husband, Edgar, would be called as well. They had three children and were content to serve the parish and their Filipino community.

“I know it takes a lot of work. It takes a transformation of your life. I just didn’t think it was for us,” Lynette said. “At our stage of life, bringing up three children, the thought of studying again was a lot. And in my mind, we weren’t holy enough.”

Deacon Jecino felt the same. “Growing up, there were a lot of signs that I failed to acknowledge. Now, I see God planted seeds in my path,” he said. “As a young child in the Philippines, being born out of wedlock, the chances of me being aborted under the circumstances my parents were in, was good. Thank God my parents chose life,” he noted. Still, his life was not structured. He lived with several siblings over the years, moving to the U.S. at age 11, speaking no English.

“It was life-changing,” he recalled. His family was supportive and loving, but didn’t really practice the faith beyond the celebration of Sunday Mass. There was no discussion about the Bible, Scripture, or anything. His sister, Violet, did pray often, and he believes that too planted a seed. Over time she taught him prayers, but he didn’t really understand them. He said he “grabbed onto” whatever he noticed in this siblings’ core values, and what the world showed him.

Then he met Lynette who attended Catholic grade school and pondered becoming a nun. She was told she was too young, and to pray about it. “That plan didn’t unfold,” said Deacon Jecino. “God said, you’re going to America to lead a soul to Jesus. And that’s what happened.”

By the time Deacon Jecino entered into formation for the diaconate, his brother-in-law still had two years of study left. He said Deacon Oteyza had an impact “in a silent way”.

“I think he lives the motto, ‘preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.’ He lives in charity and service,” said Deacon Jecino. “He taught me to serve behind the scenes and not complain. To not think of what we’re doing as a job, but that we’re doing this for the love of God – for the people of God, the community.”

Deacon Jecino admits they’re both very different. “He’s more up front with his message. I’m more subtle. He can be stern, but sometimes I wish I had that,” Deacon Jecino added. “We feed off each other. We help each other grow. We learn from each other’s good and bad. His fiat was a kicker. When he went into deacon formation, I thought, he’s giving himself up to God. What more can you say when he said yes, Lord?”

Laughing joyfully over their incongruities, Deacon Oteyza said, “That’s the beauty of it. We’re all called from all different areas. Jesus doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.”

Now, they serve their community together at the monthly Filipino Mass at Holy Family Parish in Orlando. They also minister to their extended families.

“(Being deacons) adds the ability to help our relatives grow in the faith,” said Deacon Oteyza. “We’ve gone through quite a bit with loss in the family. We’re just trying to help our family grow in their faith and the Filipino community, wherever the Lord leads us.”

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, September 26, 2024