Meet the deacon candidates: Guillermo Munoz
While kneeling, deacon candidate Guillermo Muñoz professes his Oath of Fidelity in front of Bishop Michael F. Olson on June 3, 2024. (NTC/Annette Mendoza-Smith)
FORT WORTH — With praise and thanksgiving to almighty God, Bishop Michael Olson will ordain three men to the permanent diaconate on June 21. The men have undergone five years of discernment and formation as they prepare to serve Christ's Church more deeply.
In advance of the Mass of Diaconate Ordination at 7 p.m. on June 21 at Vietnamese Martyrs Parish in Arlington, we would like to introduce the deacon candidates one at a time. Please join us in prayer for these men.
Guillermo Muñoz Medina
The random experience of picking up a wrapped piece of paper containing a Bible verse in the summer of 2008 engendered a profound moment in the life of Guillermo (Willie) Muñoz and led to his recognition of the Lord's call for him.
Muñoz and his wife, Patty, served at their home parish, St. Francis of Assisi in Grapevine, and elsewhere as a marriage sponsor couple and volunteer chaplains at Medical City Arlington Hospital, as well as other ministries.
Upon picking up the paper slip from the ground, Muñoz reflected on the message during a Familias Catolícas prayer group session.
“The word of the Lord came to me,” the verses from Jeremiah 1:4-9 read. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you before you were born. I dedicated you ... But the Lord answered me, ‘Do not say I am too young. To whoever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.’ Then the Lord extended His hand and touched my mouth saying, ‘I place my words in your mouth!’”
Inspired, Muñoz began serving as a lector and extraordinary minister of holy Communion as well as participating in other ministries.
He felt a strong call to join the diaconate formation after Father James Flynn, current pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Keller, shared information about the program and invited Muñoz to discern and pray about joining. He entered the formation program in 2015, undertaking the application and discernment process.
He and his wife, Patty, have been married for 43 years. They have two daughters, two sons, and six grandchildren.
Born in Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico, to Antonio Muñoz and Concepcion Medina, he was raised in the Catholic faith and attended Instituto Teresa de Avila Catholic School from kindergarten to 6th grade and then middle and high school at an El Paso Christian institute.
He studied and played sports at Los Angeles City College, then went to Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez, where he graduated from law school.
In addition to practicing as an attorney, Muñoz worked for General Motors as a material and traffic control specialist; a material control superintendent at Zenith Electronics; and, for 13 years, a gameday and training camp merchandising manager for the Dallas Cowboys.
Muñoz describes his diaconate formation experience as a blessing and a long journey, both challenging and rewarding.
Balancing formation, a full-time job, and family proved a challenge, but the combination of God's grace, coupled with a lot of prayer and Blessed Mary’s intercession, supplied him with the ability to find his path and continue to grow in all dimensions of diaconate formation.
Muñoz learned to see the face of Christ in serving others, especially the poor, sick, and needy. He completed assignments at St. Francis, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Good Shepherd in Colleyville, and at St. Michael Parish, where he now is a full-time employee as the Hispanic Ministry, Hospitality, and Liturgy Coordinator.
Muñoz feels blessed to have been called to the diaconate and looks forward to serving the Diocese of Fort Worth in charitable, pastoral, and liturgical roles, as directed by Bishop Michael Olson.