FLORIDAWWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Dec. 9-22, 2016 | Volume 78, NumberCatholic 3 ORLANDO DIOCESE PALM BEACH DIOCESE VENICE DIOCESE Deacon Closing the Charities battling stage 4 Holy Doors of Christmas cancer Mercy appeal Bishop John Noonan stood before the altar at Pamela Badami of Miami made a pilgrimage to When instability, injustice or poverty exists, Holy Cross Parish in Orlando and laid his hands the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola Nov. 20, stood Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Inc. is often over the head of Elias Coll. At that moment, a call- at the designated Holy Doors and prayed in silence the first to address concerns found in underserved ing the 63-year-old Catholic had his entire life before she walked over the threshold and inside communities. Catholic Charities strives to respond was finally fulfilled. “From the time I was in my for Mass with special ceremonies to close the door and be a part of the solution through collaboration mother’s womb, I feel I was called to be a deacon,” and mark the end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. and partnership within the community that is es- said Deacon Coll. He was originally scheduled to “I have a brain tumor and will have surgery. I am sential for the common good and brings dignity to be ordained in June 2017. But doctors are not sure praying that I will get well,” the young woman with people in need. Now is the time to ensure that the he will live until then. He has stage 4 colon cancer great hope and faith in God’s mercy said. Thou- needy in the Diocese of Venice get the help they which has spread to other organs. Bishop Noonan sands of people made pilgrimages to the cathedral require by supporting the 15th annual Catholic decided to move up the ordination date to Nov. 26. during the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Charities Christmas Appeal. Click on the ORLANDO DIOCESE above for Click on the PALM BEACH DIOCESE above for Click on the VENICE DIOCESE above for more more on this story. more on this story. on this story. WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Dec. 9-22, 2016 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE Deacon battling stage 4 cancer TERESA PETERSON Special to the Florida Catholic Deacon Elias Coll and his ORLANDO | Bishop John Noonan stood wife, Enri, process before the altar at Holy Cross Parish in Orlan- out of do and laid his hands over the head of Elias Holy Cross Coll. At that moment, a calling the 63-year- Church old Catholic had his entire life was finally following fulfilled. his “From the time I was in my mother’s ordination. womb, I feel I was called to be a deacon,” said Due to Deacon Coll. his cancer He was originally scheduled to be ordained diagnosis, in June 2017. But doctors are not sure he will Deacon live until then. He has stage 4 colon cancer Coll was which has spread to other organs. Bishop ordained Noonan decided to move up the ordination early by date to Nov. 26. Bishop John “Elias has always been a servant of Christ Noonan. — visiting the sick, homeless and needy,” (JACQUE said Deacon David Gray, diocesan director BRUND | FC) of the permanent diaconate, and secretary of the Leadership and Parish Life Secretariat. “He has lived the call of a deacon through- out his life. Even in the midst of his fight with cancer he has let the gift of the Holy Spirit shine through him, always with faith, courage and joy. All you have to do is meet Elias and you know immediately the light of Christ is shining through him. Ordaining him now to the life he has been living was a natural decision.” Deacon Coll arrived in Orlando from Ven- believing that what is impossible for us is pos- ‘Even in the midst of his fight with cancer he has let the gift of the ezuela in 2003 with his family to pursue better sible for God. Our salvation is more important opportunities for his children, and to be in a than our healing.” Holy Spirit shine through him, always with faith, courage and joy.’ country that offered security, safety and free- In 2012, he applied to become a deacon dom to live one’s faith. and was accepted into the five-year formation Deacon David Gray “We moved here so our children could program. Less than a year later, he received have a better future, so they could study and the cancer diagnosis. Since then, he has en- we are a field hospital. We must go out to the with the Virgin Mary, we live and work with develop spiritually, socially as children of dured numerous chemotherapy treatments world to encounter the captives, the forgotten, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. God. We have been blessed. God is never out- and has been taking heavy medications to especially those who do not feel loved by God. St. Joseph is an icon for men to help them to done in generosity,” said Deacon Coll, who is battle the cancer. That did not deter him from We are reminded over and over again, all are be a good father and husband.” a member of Holy Cross Parish. continuing on the path to becoming a dea- God’s children.” He reflected on the significance of his ordi- His wife, Enri, said her husband is an ex- con. Bishop Noonan also gave this mandate to nation. “Today is a glorious day,” Deacon Coll ample to others. Many times when people Deacon Coll: “Elias, you are a man of prayer. said. “It’s a reminder of the grace and bless- visit him because of his illness, they hope to CHOSEN You have been called to live as prayer. Pray ings of our Lord and the abundance of God’s brighten his day. But they are the ones to be Right before the ordination, Bishop Noon- for yourself, your wife and the family that has mercy.” encouraged by his unshakeable faith and an told the congregation that Deacon Coll had been entrusted to you. Bring Christ to the sick When asked how he has been able to cope deep compassion for others. been chosen by the Lord, the pastor and the and dying. When you preach and teach the with the difficulties of the illness, he said, “By the glory of God I have not suffered people, similar to the readings from Acts 6:1 Gospel, may the Lord always be in your heart. “Prayer, daily Communion, visiting the most with pain. I have not complained,” said when the community of disciples gathered to With God’s help, you are to always act in a way Blessed Sacrament, loving my family and vis- Deacon Coll. “On the contrary, I thank God. choose seven men to ordain as deacons. that you will be recognized by the words of Je- iting the sick.” Thanks be to God it was me and not my wife “I trust the people of Holy Cross, because sus who came ‘not to be served but to serve.’” He said he will continue to do all these or my children.” they have chosen you. I too have come to be- things until he is no longer able. Doctors have lieve that the Lord has chosen you,” Bishop IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH said he only has six months before the cancer MINISTERING TO THE SICK Noonan said. Deacon Coll and his wife have been will take his life. He is not concerned about During his many years of participating at Referring to the gift of faith and the gift of married 37 years and they have three the time. He is concerned about what he does Holy Cross Parish, he has volunteered with ordination, Bishop Noonan said, “On the day grown children and four grandchildren. with the time. the ministry to the sick and the ministry of of your baptism you received a special gift. This illness and this journey through the “I might pass away tonight. But it might consolation. Now even though he is ill him- You were anointed with the oil of chrism, diaconate have made their marriage stron- be five years or 20 years from now. I will keep self, he continues to serve and minister to the to symbolize that you are sacred. You were ger. serving,” he said. “I will continue to do exactly sick and homebound of his parish. The ma- strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit “We grow in love through God,” Enri Coll the same things that I have being doing: pre- jority of people he visits are those with cancer. and you were enriched by the Holy Spirit and said. “We have been able to help each other, paring my soul, growing my spirit and giving “I am strengthened by the sick I encounter his gifts. Today you are about to receive the giving strength to each other and to know ev- to God my life, because God is my creator and as instruments of God,” he said. “I learned Book of the Gospels because you are about to ery day that even if we disagree or if we face I am not the one who lives, but it is Christ who from Jesus how to know God and to live ac- become its herald.” difficulty, we are bound through God. It’s our lives in me.” cording to his will. That’s how I minister to Explaining the role of the deacon, Bishop foundation. Jesus is with us always.” When asked how he wants to be remem- those who are ill and we are united in prayer, Noonan said, “Pope Francis reminds us that “Yes always,” added Deacon Coll.