Andorra Ordains First Local Deacon in 16 Years at Packed Sant Esteve Church

The church of Sant Esteve in Andorra la Vella filled to capacity on Sunday afternoon for the ordination of Carlos Steve Rosas Portela as a deacon—the first such ceremony for a Principality resident since 2008. The Colombian native from Bogotá received the laying on of hands from Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat, Bishop of Urgell and Episcopal Co-Prince of Andorra.

The hour-and-a-half service drew family, seminary peers, local parishioners, and officials including Justice and Interior Minister Ester Molné, Andorra la Vella Consell Major Sergi González, Citizen's Ombudsman Xavier Cañada, representatives of the Co-Princes, and Ambassador to the Holy See Carles Àlvarez-Marfany.

Rosas publicly affirmed his commitment to Church ministry before the rite began. He then prostrated himself as the litany of saints was recited. Bishop Serrano imposed hands on his head and delivered the ordination prayer, formally admitting him to the diaconate. Rosas next received the ministry's vestments—a stole and dalmatic—followed by the Book of the Gospels. The bishop concluded with an embrace and kiss of peace, welcoming him into the order.

In his homily, Bishop Serrano noted that Rosas was transitioning from formation to a life of service, one that offers not exhaustion but "happiness and fulfilment." As a deacon, he can now perform baptisms and marriages, preside over liturgies, and take a further step toward priesthood.

Rosas entered the Diocese of Urgell's seminary in 2019 and has served at Sant Esteve parish, assisting the elderly and socio-health centre residents while teaching religion at Ordino's Andorrana School.

The event revives a rare tradition in Andorra, following Juan Pau Esteban Osma's 2007 or 2008 ordination. Osma, currently rector in Sort, will move to Sant Julià de Lòria this September, replacing Mossèn Pepe Chisvert. It kicks off the diocese's summer ordination calendar to strengthen pastoral work across Andorra and beyond.