By Paula Day

Reverend Mr. Luis Zarama was ordained a transitional deacon June 20 at the Mission of Our Lady of the Americas in Doraville.

Auxiliary Bishop Agustin A. Roman of Miami was the ordaining bishop at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Family, friends and members of the mission crowded into the mission chapel. "I was very surprised at the crowd," the new deacon remarked.

"It was very special. The people really joined in the singing, which is unusual. Bishop Roman said he would like to take the choir back to Miami with him."

Deacon Zarama's grandmother, Rosa Pasqualetto, and mother, Maria, came from Orlando, Fla., for the ordination, as did his father, Rafael, and brother Juan. The newly ordained said his family was impressed by the welcome given them by members of the mission.

Sister Beatrice Baneco, a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart who staff the mission, organized the celebration, which included a reception and pot luck meal following the Mass.

Reverend Mr. Zarama formally began his diaconal duties at Sacred Heart parish in downtown Atlanta June 29. He performed his first baptism as a deacon at the parish earlier and witnessed his first marriage June 26. His ordination to the priesthood is tentatively planned for the fall.