Cardinal Ordains 12 Priests—10 for New York

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Cardinal Dolan acknowledged he was heading into possibly treacherous territory. But, given the sheer joy of the occasion and the spirit of grace that exuded from the just completed Mass of Ordination at St. Patrick’s Cathedral May 23, he probably knew he would be forgiven his exuberance.

“You know, one of the times when David in the Bible got in trouble was when he counted,” the cardinal reminded the cathedral packed with family and friends of the 12 men he had just ordained to the priesthood on a glorious spring morning. “Remember when he took the census of God’s people? God doesn’t want us to put our trust in numbers. He only wants us to put our trust in Him.

“However,” he went on to an expectant ripple of laughter from the pews. “We can’t blame ourselves in rejoicing when we have 12 new priests!”

In a ceremony replete with symbolism and ancient tradition, the 12 men, James Benavides, Seán Connolly, Jose Cruz, Ricardo Garcia, Matthew Reiman, Stephen Ries, Elvin Rivera, Christopher McBride, C.F.R., Adolphus Muoghalu, Adolfo Novio, Ignatius Shin, C.F.R., and Jean-Marie Uzabakiriho, became priests of Jesus Christ and His Church.

Cardinal Dolan was the ordaining bishop and principal celebrant. Concelebrants included Msgr. Peter Vaccari, rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, other bishops and priests from across the archdiocese and priests from the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

One by one, the candidates were called forward. The rector of the seminary testified to their worthiness and asked the cardinal to ordain them to the responsibility of the priesthood.

Then the cardinal addressed the congregation in his homily, asking them to meditate for a moment on three simple one-word questions: Who? When? Why?

“First of all who,” said Cardinal Dolan. “Well, 12 men who years and years ago sensed a nudge, a whisper from Jesus to give Him and his bride the Church their lives as priests. Twelve men, there they are, who from the start sensed like St. Peter in this morning’s Gospel an unworthiness, a ‘Who, me?’ An unworthiness, I reckon and I trust is still with them this beautiful spring morning.”

But Cardinal Dolan told the ordinands that their lingering self-doubts and feelings of unworthiness placed them with St. Peter, St. Paul and other luminaries of the Church who surrendered “like St. Peter in this morning’s Gospel by confessing ‘Lord, you know everything. You know my sins, you know my darkness, you know my unworthiness but you know that I love you.’” Then the cardinal thanked all those who had helped them on their spiritual journey—moms, dads, grandparents, families and friends.

“Thank you for the encouragement and support that you gave these 12 men. Twelve men whose call was nurtured by parishes and priests, so many of whom are here today, by religious sisters and brothers, by neighbors, by teachers, by parishioners. Twelve men whose call was clarified with the help of confessors and parish priests and spiritual developers and, thanks be to God, our very excellent seminary.”

Moving to the “when” Cardinal Dolan pointed out that it was the Vigil of the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples of Christ. And he told the 12 that with the imminent laying on of hands, the Holy Spirit would descend on these newest apostles “as we unleash them to be evangelists, missionaries, as were those first 12.”

Moving to the “where,” he used the vast cathedral, partially encased in scaffolding while still undergoing restoration and renewal, as a metaphor for the changes occurring in the men’s lives. He said their ordination was not the end of their spiritual journeys and there would always be need for renewal. They would “never be completely fixed, never finally there, never beyond repair,” the cardinal said.

“Never lose that passion, that fire, that excitement you once sensed when you first heard Jesus say, ‘Come follow me,’” urged the cardinal.

The cardinal then questioned each candidate, asking them to declare their resolve to accept the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood while each knelt before him promising respect and obedience to him and his successors.

Then, while Cardinal Dolan asked God to pour out the gifts of heaven on those He has chosen, the 12 men prostrated themselves on the floor to demonstrate their humbleness and willingness to serve others while the assembly sang the Litany of the Saints.

Cardinal Dolan then laid his hands on the head of each of the elect in silence and all the priests present joined him, each silently laying their hands on the head of each of the elect as they knelt facing the altar.

The cardinal then outstretched his hands and prayed the Prayer of Ordination.

After their fellow priests helped the newly ordained into their stoles and chasubles, the cardinal anointed the hands of the 12 and presented each with a paten holding the bread and a chalice containing wine mixed with water. Lastly, he gave each new priest a fraternal kiss.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist followed, for each of the freshly ordained men, their first as priests.

For Father Ignatius Shin, C.F.R., who had struggled mightily with his vocation call, frequently asking if perhaps the Lord had tabbed the wrong man, it was a moment of affirmation. He was glad he answered the call.

“I guess he got the right guy,” he said with a grin as he blessed members of his family after the Mass. “I’m so grateful to God and to God’s people for praying for me and of course to Our Lady for helping me to hear this call.”

Father Seán Connolly said being ordained on the Vigil of Pentecost had a special resonance for him.

“Being ordained on the Vigil of Pentecost, you can really sense the Holy Spirit coming down upon us to lead us up to the Father and to conform us to Christ Our Lord,” he said. “It was a time of tremendous graces. I would call it actually even a charismatic experience.”

It was also an intensely moving experience for his parents.

“It’s been quite a journey,” said his mother, Fran. “I’m just overjoyed to be here today with my son and surrounded by my wonderful family and friends and all the seminarians and priests.

“I know he’s happy. He’s overjoyed and I know for sure that it is exactly where he’s supposed to be,” she said.

Father Elvin Rivera admitted he had cried profusely during his diaconate ordination. But he said he was able to keep the tears in check this time.

“Actually I was kind of surprised I didn’t cry as much because I just accepted it and recognized that I was in a comfortable place,” he explained. “I know this is where God wants me.”

“I am very proud. It’s a wonderful day,” added his mother Jacqueline. “We were waiting for this day for a long time. We knew that one day he would be a priest. The only person that didn’t know it was him.”