Congratulations, Deacon Olman Hernandez, on your ordination to the Permanent Diaconate!
On Saturday, June 6th, at 10 am, Bishop John Noonan will ordain 8 men to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Orlando, including our parishioner, Olman Hernandez.
In formation for the past five years after one discernment year, these men are prepared to enter a life of Diakonia and serve their communities, guided by the Holy Spirit.
The Ordination will take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, and it is open to the public.
For those unable to attend the ordination, the Mass will also be available to view via livestream on our Facebook page and on the Diocese of Orlando’s Facebook page.
Celebrate with us Deacon Olman’s first Masses here at Most Precious Blood
Celebration of the Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate. Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. June 6, 2026, 10 AM
Meet Olman Hernandez
Olman Hernandez and his wife, Chris, have been married for twenty-seven years and are blessed with four children: Mary Grace, Elizabeth, Olman, and Ricardo. Olman’s journey began in San José, Costa Rica, where he was born and raised. He later came to the United States to pursue his undergraduate degree in Memphis, Tennessee. It was there that he met Chris, beginning their journey. After spending fifteen years in Chicago, they felt called to make a change. In 2015, they moved to the Oviedo area, drawn not only by the warmer climate but by a renewed desire to center their lives more intentionally on faith, family, and church community.
Olman’s academic education has all been nurtured by Catholic institutions, starting with De La Salle High School in Costa Rica, then Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN, for his undergraduate degree in Computer Science, and finally at DePaul University in Chicago for his MS in Software Engineering. Most recently, Olman obtained an MA in Theology from Saint Leo University. After more than two decades in the corporate world, Olman began to sense a quiet but persistent call to place his professional experience at the service of the Church. Today, he serves as Director of Operations and Finance at All Souls Catholic Parish in Sanford, where he has found deep joy and purpose in the ministry of administration. Olman also has a passion for sharing his knowledge and experience with students at Full Sail University, where he is a professor in the Computer Science program.
On their first weekend in Oviedo, they attended Mass at Most Precious Blood and immediately sensed a deep peace, recognizing it as the place where the Lord was inviting them to belong. Within a year, Chris joined the parish staff, starting as an assistant in Faith Formation and later taking on the role of Liturgy Coordinator, which she still holds today. At the same time, Olman became involved in parish life. He took on leadership roles in organizing parish-wide events, including the parish feast day celebration and the annual golf tournament, helping to foster community and fellowship. He also served as a chaperone on high school mission trips, accompanying young people as they encountered Christ through service.
The Hernandez children have each embraced their own unique path. Their oldest daughter, Mary Grace, attended the University of South Florida, where she obtained a BS in Education and now serves as a second-grade teacher in Tampa. She is engaged to be married to a wonderful young man, Miggy Sumagang, this summer. Their son, Olman, is currently attending Florida State University, pursuing a degree in Political Science with a minor in Economics. Their youngest son, Ricardo, recently graduated from Hagerty High School and plans to attend Florida State University in the fall to pursue a degree in Finance. As a family, the Hernandezes treasure opportunities to spend time together, especially traveling and camping in their RV, creating lasting memories around campfires, quiet mornings, and the simple joy of being together away from the busyness of life. In his spare time, Olman also enjoys exploring local microbreweries, appreciating the craftsmanship and community found in artisanal brewing, and the unique character and flavors each local brewery brings.
Through every stage of their journey, Olman and Chris have sought to keep Christ at the center of their marriage, family, and service to the Church. Whether through parish ministry, professional work, or family life, they strive to live a faith rooted in presence, compassion, and joyful service. As they look toward the future, the Hernandez family remains grateful for the many blessings God has placed in their lives and hopeful for the opportunity to continue serving the people of MPB with humility, gratitude, and love.
Journey to the Diaconate
Olman’s path to diaconal formation began long before his formal entry into the program. When he and his family moved from Chicago to Oviedo in 2015 and first attended Mass at Most Precious Blood, he sensed God inviting them into a deeper journey. What began as a simple search for a parish community soon grew into a life rooted in service, faith, and accompaniment. Within a year, Chris joined the parish staff, and Olman became involved in the life of the parish by organizing events such as the feast-day celebration and golf tournament, serving as a 6th-grade catechist, and chaperoning high school mission trips. Through these experiences, he discovered the joy of serving with others and fostering a vibrant Church community.
Olman first felt God’s call after overcoming cancer as a young adult in Chicago during his first year of marriage. This experience awakened in him a special desire to minister to the sick and dying. In hospitals, nursing homes, and private residences, he encountered individuals and families carrying fear, grief, uncertainty, and hope all at once. Whether bringing Holy Communion, offering a prayer, or simply sitting quietly beside someone, Olman came to recognize Christ’s presence in these profound moments. He realized that ministry is often less about finding the right words and more about the willingness to walk compassionately with people through their suffering. These encounters deeply shaped his understanding of service and planted within him a growing desire to devote himself more fully to the Church. Yet, that call remained dormant in his heart for years until members of the MPB community encouraged him to reconnect with his calling and serve more deeply.
Pursuing diaconal formation while raising children in middle and high school presented considerable challenges for the Hernandez family. Juggling family responsibilities, work obligations, academic demands, and formation required sacrifices from everyone. They faced exhaustion, overlapping schedules, and missed opportunities for family time. Yet, amid these trials, the family found greater unity and deepened their trust in God. Formation became not only Olman’s path, but a shared journey for Chris and their children.
For Olman, formation was a transformative journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth. Previously accustomed to keeping his emotions private and relying on his own abilities, he learned to become more vulnerable and open before the Lord. The formation process called him to surrender control, trust more deeply in God’s providence, and allow others to genuinely know him. While often uncomfortable and humbling, this experience proved to be one of the greatest blessings of his life. Through prayer, spiritual direction, theological study, and fraternity with his fellow deacon candidates, Olman realized that authentic ministry flows not from personal strength or achievement, but from surrendering one’s life to Christ.
Throughout his formation, Olman has been blessed in countless ways. His marriage and family bonds have strengthened, his prayer life has flourished, and his love for serving the people in the diocese and our community has deepened. He now understands the diaconate not as an endpoint, but as a lifelong vocation rooted in humility, compassion, and joy. Above all, formation has revealed to him that God works most powerfully through those who are willing to surrender and place their complete trust in Him.
What is the difference between a vocation and a job or career?
Our Pastor, Father Josh Swallows, said this about it:
We can gain immediate insight into this question by simply looking at the origins of the term “vocation”. Vocation comes from the Latin vocare, which is “to call”. It is a calling and therefore, is born out of a relationship with God. Saint Pope John Paul II highlights this distinction in his work, On the Meaning of Vocation: “In the hidden recesses of the human heart, the grace of a vocation takes the form of a dialogue. It is a dialogue between Christ and an individual, in which a personal invitation is given. Christ calls the person by name and says, ‘Come, follow me.’ This call, this mysterious inner voice of Christ, is heard most clearly in silence and prayer. Its acceptance is an act of faith.”
A career or job may certainly be part of one’s vocation, but can only be authentically described this way if it has become part of surrendering one’s life to the Lord. In reading the writings from the saints, we see that vocation encompasses the whole answer to the question of why am I alive? That answer is found when we surrender in prayer as Christ taught us, saying to the Father, “Thy Will be done,” and mean it!
In short, a vocation is a mission from God. Each and every one of us has one, but we must be humble and listen in prayer. Another way of describing the difference between a vocation and a career is to say that a vocation is not simply chosen, (like we do with a career or job), but also something received. As we discern the Will of God for our lives, may we be truly open to God speaking a response to our hearts.
Source- Diocese of Orlando May 26, 2022