In 1961 he went to work for the County of Los Angeles Probation Department and became a Supervising Deputy Probation Officer working with juveniles and Wards of the Court at Juvenile Forestry Camps. Deacon Acosta retired from the County in 1992.
In 1984, he completed the Straling Leadership Institute and Diaconate Formation and was ordained a permanent deacon on June 9 by Bishop Phillip F. Straling.
In June 1984, he began his ministry at Immaculate Conception and San Salvador parishes in Colton serving until October 1995. He served at St. Adelaide parish in Highland from November 1995 until his passing. He was granted retired deacon status by Bishop Gerald R. Barnes on September 22, 2008.
Deacon Acosta was president of Los Padrinos, which he founded in 1973 as a gang prevention organization helping youth. In 2014, he was recognized for his work with Los Padrinos with a Legacy of Exemplary Service award from Libreria del Pueblo, Inc.
He also assisted the chaplain at Patton State Hospital in Highland sharing the Liturgy of the Word with the Spanish speaking inmates as well as filling in for Father John Gorman at San Bernardino Community Hospital.
Deacon Acosta is survived by his wife, Marie, and his four children Karl, Kenneth, Kathryn and Karyn.
Vigil service was on August 30 at St. Adelaide Parish, Highland, the Funeral Mass was on August 31 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, San Bernardino and internment was on September 1 at Riverside National Cemetery.