May 8, 2024 — On April 20, Ulises Covarrubias, SJ, and Fernando Saldivar, SJ, both members of Jesuits West, were ordained to the diaconate at the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris.
They were ordained by Bishop Philippe Marsset, auxiliary bishop of Paris, along with 15 other Jesuits. Covarrubias and Saldivar are both currently studying theology at Centre Sèvres in Paris.
Before joining the Society, Covarrubias earned a bachelor’s degree in international development studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and a master’s degree in public diplomacy from the University of Southern California. As a Jesuit in formation, he studied at Saint Louis University and taught Spanish and philosophy at Seattle Preparatory School.
Saldivar received a bachelor’s degree in Latin American history from Georgetown University and a JD from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles. He spent the decade prior to entering the Society practicing law in Southern California. During his formation, he studied at Loyola University Chicago and worked at the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar in the Office of Justice and Ecology in Nairobi, Kenya.
For Jesuits in formation, ordination to the diaconate is the final step in preparation for priestly ordination in the Society of Jesus. As ministers of sacraments, deacons proclaim the Gospel, baptize, witness marriages and conduct wake and funeral services.
