Amelito ‘Ali’ Perez is one of three men to be ordained to the permanent diaconate on July 22 at St. Joseph’s Basilica. Bishop Paul Terrio, retired bishop of the Diocese of St. Paul, will be the principal celebrant. Ali will be assigned to his home parish, St. Augustine in Ponoka, where he and his family have been active members since 1996. There are currently 36 permanent deacons serving in the Edmonton Archdiocese.
Tell me about yourself.
I am 63 years old and was born in the Philippines to devout Catholic parents, with six sisters and a brother. I served as an altar boy from Grade 3 in elementary school through high school. In 1984, I graduated from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
In 1988, I met my future wife, Maria, at a human resources agency that was hiring technical trainees bound for Japan. After working in Japan, I travelled to New York in 1990 to join my two sisters, who were working as nurses. I enrolled in a nursing program at the City University of New York. Maria came to New York in 1993, where we had our church wedding at Our Lady of Angels. I immigrated to Canada that same year and then, in 1996, moved to Alberta from Ontario. While working as a healthcare aide at what was then Alberta Hospital Ponoka, now known as Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury, I pursued my nursing studies at MacEwan University and obtained my psychiatric nursing diploma in 1999. I have been working in Brain Injury Rehabilitation ever since. Maria and I have a daughter, Agnes, who is married to Alejandro, and a son, Aaron. We have been serving at St. Augustine Parish since we settled here.
What attracted you to the diaconate, and how did you become involved?
Sometime in 2018, there was an announcement in our parish bulletin that Deacon Lynn Pion would come to discuss the diaconate program. I was concerned that no one would attend, so I decided to go. After we watched the video The Form of a Servant: What is a Permanent Deacon I became convinced that this was the answer to my deep-seated desire to serve God more fully. A seed must have been planted in my heart when, prior to this presentation, some parishioners, along with the former parish priest, had suggested the permanent diaconate to me.
What was the highlight of the formation process? What was the toughest part?
The monthly one-weekend formation at the Providence Centre has been the highlight of my formation process for the past four years. This experience has allowed me to grow in my appreciation and understanding of the human, spiritual, intellectual, and ministerial dimensions. It has provided me with a solid foundation of faith and tradition based on what the Holy Church truly teaches. The formation, alongside all the candidates and our wives, has enabled us to experience what it feels like to be part of a community of Christ’s followers, where our thoughts are focused on God and our hearts beat as one. The toughest part is managing my time, as I work full-time as a healthcare staff member. The first two years were particularly challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the adjustment to the online Newman Theological College courses.
Why should a man consider the permanent diaconate?
We are all called to serve in various ways. The permanent diaconate is an irresistible grace, given freely and awaiting a response. If God is calling, one can choose the long way home, as I did, or spend the rest of one’s life longing. A married man will also have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders, thereby completing the seven sacraments.
What particular skills do you have that will help you serve the Church?
As an immigrant, I recognize the significance of culture and have made adjustments to fully embrace it while remaining true to the Church’s teachings. My goal is to introduce Christ to those facing life’s difficulties and losses, and to connect with those who feel neglected or marginalized. Nurses possess an intrinsic quality of compassion and care for the sick, which I can also apply.
What do you hope to achieve as a deacon, and what will be the biggest challenge?
I aspire to serve the Body of Christ, the Church, by assisting its members in becoming holy through spreading the Word of God, administering the Sacraments, and practicing charity. My greatest challenge remains managing my time effectively to balance church duties with my job and family responsibilities.
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Watch: Deacon Arden Playford’s reflection and words of wisdom for the candidates.
