Ordination Day 2008

Photos by Brother Simon Stubbs, OSB

For hundreds of men around the country each spring, the Sacrament of Holy Orders culminates years of academic and prayerful preparation.

It’s a time, too, when Catholic Extension donors can celebrate the faithful gifts they have made to help the seminarians in some 40 mission dioceses reach this joyful day.

To help share in the celebration of the ceremonies that are at the heart of the Eucharistic community, EXTENSION presents these highlights from the ordinations that took place at Imma­culate Concep­tion Cathedral in the mission Diocese of Lake Charles May 10.

Most Reverend Glen John Provost ordained Ruben Buller and Nathan Long to the priesthood and Scott Conner as a transitional deacon, the last step before one becomes a priest.
 

Rehearsal

Just as with a wedding, the men walk through the steps of the ceremony the day before. At left, Nathan Long checks vestments. Ruben Buller (far right) and Scott Conner (below) get final directions.

Final Preparations

The next morning the men gather at the bishop’s residence for Eucharistic Adora-tion and an informal breakfast before the ceremonies.

Mass

The “Ceremonial of Bishops” recommends that ordinations take place before as large a gathering of the faithful as possible and with other priests of the diocese to celebrate this joyful occcasion.

Typically, this would be at a special Mass in the cathedral around the cathedra — the symbolic chair of the bishop.

Those to be or-dained a priest enter wearing an alb and the stole they received as a transitional deacon. Much of the Mass begins as normal.

The Ordination Rite

The ordination begins after the Gospel reading. The candidates are each called forward by name.

The Bishop then questions the candidates about their readiness to “exercise the ministry of the word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and explaining the Catholic Faith” and to “consecrate your life to God for the salvation of His people.”

The ordinands make vows of chastity and obedience to the Bishop and his successors.

The Ordination Rite Continued

Various signs used during the ordination have been used for centuries to express the investiture of priestly powers and continu­ity of the presbyterate order.
The candidates prostrate themselves during the “Litany of the Saints” as a symbol of their unworthiness for the office to be assumed and their dependence upon God and the prayers of the Christian community

Laying on of Hands

The bishop places his hands on the ordinands’ head — one of the oldest and most powerful signs of the Holy Orders sacrament. He prays in silence that the Holy Spirit might come upon them.
A succession of the other priests in attendance then also lay their hands on the candidates in silent prayer.

Investiture with Stole and Chasuble

Some of the other priests then help the ordinands with two principal symbols of their new office: the stole — a sign of their authority and taking on the “yoke of Christ” — and the chasuble, the large cloak-like vestment that only the priest wears when celebrating the Eucharist.

Anointing of Hands

Not shown here, the bishop anoints the palms of each new priest with the sacred oil that had been blessed at the annual Chrism Mass for this purpose — the hands now prepared for the sacred duties and vessels that are part of the priestly ministry.

Prayer of Consecration

As the candidates kneel before the bishop, he stretches out his hand and offers the prayer of consecration upon the men: “May they be faithful in working with the order of bishops, so that the words of the Gospel may reach the ends of the earth, and the family of nations, made one in Christ, may become God’s
one, holy people.”

Taking their place at the altar

Now kneeling before them, the bishop hands the gifts of bread and wine to the newly-ordained as a sign of their power to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Above, the ordinands take their place at the altar for the consecration.

Taking their place at the altar

Now kneeling before them, the bishop hands the gifts of bread and wine to the newly-ordained as a sign of their power to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.T he ordinands take their place at the altar for the consecration.

Celebration

Afterwards, of course, is time for picture-taking with friends and family and a reception with the jubilant community.

Soon after, the newly ordained priests go out to celebrate their first Mass, usually at their home parish.

Father Long went to St. Ra­phael’s in Iowa, La., while Father Buller celebrated his first Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Fenton, La.