‘A Grateful Church’ Applauds 11 New Priests in New York

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Cardinal Dolan ordained 11 men to the priesthood—five for the archdiocese and six for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal—and thanked them “for accepting the dare of Jesus to ‘come and see, to cast out to the deep,’…to serve Him and His Church forever as priests—priests after His own Sacred Heart.”

“Chosen 11, listen up. He is with us through you, His priests,” continued the cardinal, who served as principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass of Ordination of Priests May 27 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

“You will call upon the Holy Spirit at every Mass, beginning right now, every baptism, every confession, every wedding, every anointing, counting on the assurance of Jesus to keep His promise and send His Spirit.

“You will preach His Word,” Cardinal Dolan told the men, and “hand on His invitation and His teaching. You will nurture the faith of His people, encouraging them to ‘be not afraid,’ to whisper, ‘Jesus, I trust in thee,’ to see Him in the poor and the searching. You will be so close to Him that His people will call you ‘Father’ and His Church will embrace you as a husband.

“You have not chosen Him,” concluded the cardinal, “He has chosen you.”

The new priests are Father Justin Alarcón, C.F.R., 37; Father Giles Maria Barrie, C.F.R., 37; Father Edwin Bonifacio; Father Stephen Dufrene, C.F.R., 37; Father Anthony Giacona, 31; Father Roch Greiner, C.F.R., 37; Father Diego Hernández, 31; Father Tansi Ibisi, C.F.R, 43; Father John-Mary Johannssen, C.F.R., 43; Father Rufus Kenny, 28; and Father Reynor Santiago, 40.

Being ordained on Memorial Day weekend was meaningful to Father Johannssen, who had served in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft navigator and air navigation instructor before entering the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

“On this day when we remember all of those who have given their lives for the sake of our country, it’s a beautiful day to once more have an opportunity to lay down my life, in a new way, for God, for the service of God’s people, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the grace and the blessing of the call,” said Father Johannssen, whose rank was captain.

“I encourage any man who suspects that he may be called to this holy vocation to have the courage to say ‘yes,’ because it is indeed a great joy.”

Father Hernández was ordained to the priesthood in the same sanctuary where he served as a transitional deacon this past year. “I’m so grateful to Msgr. (Robert) Ritchie (the Cathedral rector), and to His Eminence, and to everybody here at the cathedral for the beautiful help, friendship and fellowship that I have had during my ministry as deacon here at our beloved Cathedral of St. Patrick.”

Cardinal Dolan thanked to the parents, grandparents and other family members who encouraged the men “and brought them to this happy day.” The congregation applauded in kind after the cardinal asked the parents of the new priests to stand “so that you might hear the appreciation of a grateful Church.”

The cardinal also thanked St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie and its rector, Msgr. Peter Vaccari, as well as the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and the Pontifical North American College in Rome “for their diligence” in the formation process of the new priests. “Thank you all,” he added to those others who have accompanied the men along the way.

“I’m very happy,” said a beaming Father Bonifacio. The highlight of the rite for him was “when the bishop said, ‘You’re a priest now,’” he said. “I can’t believe it,” Father Bonifacio added.

That night, he planned to pray for “all the people of God,” and particularly “all the people of the Archdiocese of New York.”

Darin and Courtney Branson of the Louisiana Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux considered the ordination of their friend, Father Dufrene, a catechetical moment for their 6-month-old son Bosco. Last December, Father Dufrene, as a deacon, baptized Bosco, who is also his godson.

“Maybe one day his godfather will be at his ordination—God willing,” Mrs. Branson said of Bosco.

“The joy of the Gospel is still alive, the Incarnation is still working in us, and there’s always great hope when the community comes together to celebrate Christ’s priesthood,” Father Kenny said.

Offering the Mass was monumental to him. “I’ve been going to Mass my whole life, and now the Lord’s working through me to bring about His Real, Eucharistic Presence on earth.”

As Father Alarcón viewed the vast faithful in the pews during the processional and recessional, he thought of “the pastoral charity of Christ, the love of God for His people,” he said.

The laying on of hands “by all the presbyterate” was a powerful moment for him as he contemplated the “sacramental brotherhood that we share.”

“Surreal” was how Father Barrie summed up ordination. “I really feel called to be a minister of His mercy, especially in the confessional.” To future penitents, he assures “God’s mercy—no matter what.”

Father Barrie said he is ready to serve “wherever God leads me” and to “do His will.”

A deep peace came over Conrad and Christina Giacona, parents of Father Giacona, during the rite. “I know my son is so happy, this is what God has called him to do, and he’s happy doing it,” Mrs. Giacona said. “It can’t get any better than that for a parent.”

“We know that he will be very happy for the rest of his life,” Mr. Giacona added.

Mrs. Giacona recalled a pivotal moment that happened at Mass when their priest son was 2 years old. Her maternal uncle, the late Msgr. John Clark of the Diocese of Camden, N.J., in his homily, petitioned parents to nurture vocations in their children. “When I went up to Communion—my uncle gave me Communion—I said, ‘Amen, I won’t forget what you said.’ I had Anthony in my arms.”