CEEC Chaplain Promoted
Pictured above: CH Diego Londono (L) of the CEEC and Colonel Jeremie N. Hester (C), Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 39, listen as Sergeant Major Idris N. Turay (R) reads the letter of promotion for CH Londono to the rank of Commander (CDR) in the United States Navy.
On Tuesday, 2 July, 2024, Chaplain Diego Londoño was promoted to the rank of Commander (CDR) in the United States Navy. The promotion ceremony took place in the Memorial Garden of Marine Aircraft Group 39 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA. In addition to Father Londoño’s wife, Nancy Rojas, and their children, Kassandra and Victor, the ceremony was attended by chaplains and religious program specialists from Camp Pendleton, as well as friends from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Texas, Missouri, and California. Additionally, friends and family from Florida, Chile, Venezuela, and Columbia were watching online.
The ceremony was overseen by Colonel Jeremie N. Hester, Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 39. Col. Hester stated, ‘[We] have about 3,800 Marines, give or take, depending on the deployment cycle…that 3,800 souls that need taken care of, and that’s what our chaplain corps does and that’s why [Chaplain] Diego and…Nancy’s support is so important to us…It’s because of guys like Chap Londoño that we’re able to continue to do what we do”.
Col. Hester stressed the importance of spiritual support for the Marines and their families on base and deployment, and expressed his appreciate to the work and dedication of Father Londoño.
Chaplain Londoño’s daughter, son, and wife remove his old insignia as a Lieutenant Commander and replace it with the new insignia of Commander.
“Father Londoño has been, and continues to be, an example of Christ and the servant of servants”, said Bishop Ryan Mackey, Endorsing Agent, CEEC-USA. “Everyone who spoke to me about Father Londoño expressed their appreciation for his faith, love, wisdom, and support of them”.
“Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”. (The Mission of St. Clare, “Collect for those in the Armed Forces of our Country”, https://www.missionstclare.com/english/prayers/25.html)
Taking the oath.
Chaplain Londoño (C) with other chaplains and religious program specialists.