FOUR NEW PRIESTS FOR THE VALLEY

may 27, 2007

On Friday, May 25, marking the fiftieth anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood, I will ordain four young men to the Order of Presbyters, for the Diocese of Brownsville, the particular church of the Rio Grande Valley. They are: Eduardo Gomez, Juan Rogelio Gutierrez, Juan Pablo Davalos Picazo and Juan Pablo Robles.

The day has very special meaning for me, as well as for them, for their families, and for the whole Church. As I recall the day of my ordination and review the many events that have touched my life since then, I thank God for the grace of priesthood and for his continuous presence in my life, in good times and in bad. I thank God for the many priests, deacons, Sisters and Brothers who have worked beside me and stood with me in four Texas dioceses. Finally, I pray for God’s blessing upon my family and the countless lay faithful who have touched my life and who have offered support, prayer and assistance in my ministry.

The day has special meaning for the men being ordained. It marks the completion of years of formation, study, and scrutiny. Their ordination will show that the Church has confirmed their vocation and is ready to entrust to them the sacramental powers of the priesthood, and the pastoral care of God’s people. Their names will be called one by one, and each will declare, “Present,” thereby publicly saying, “yes,” to the Lord who called him, and to the life and mission of the Church that the Lord has sent him to serve. To be ordained is to make a lifelong commitment to the same dedicated, humble service which characterized Jesus’ public ministry.

I will ask the candidates some questions, which manifest the inner core of the priesthood to which they are committing themselves:
• “Do you resolve, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail the office of priesthood…as worthy fellow workers with the Order of Bishops in caring for the Lord’s flock?
• “Do you resolve to exercise the ministry of the word worthily and wisely, preaching the gospel and teaching the Catholic faith?
• “Do you resolve to celebrate faithfully and reverently, in accord with the Church’s tradition, the mysteries of Christ, especially the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, for the glory of God and the sanctification of the Christian people?
• “Do you resolve to implore…God’s mercy upon the people entrusted to your care by observing the command to pray without ceasing?
• “Do you resolve to be united more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice, and with him to consecrate yourself to God for the salvation of all?” (Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests and of Deacons, [Second Typical Edition, USCCB, 2003])

To each question, they will respond “I do.” Each answer deepens their commitment to enter into the priesthood of Jesus Christ, and to give themselves ever more completely to him and his people. Each of them will then approach me individually to place his hands in mine and promise respect and obedience to me and to my successors.

After invoking the intercession of all the saints in heaven, while the faithful pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit, I will impose my hands on their heads and the priests present will do the same. I will then pronounce the Prayer of Ordination, and the power of the Holy Spirit will come upon them and Christ’s grace will fill them. They will be priests forever.

On the occasion of my golden jubilee, Christ gives the gift of four energetic, committed and holy young priests to his Church in the Valley. They have not chosen him, he has chosen them to serve him and bear fruit in South Texas (cf. John 15:16). It is rightly said, therefore, that a priest is a gift Christ gives to his Church.

This day has special meaning for their families. Their parents have encouraged their vocation and prayed for them. They have accompanied them through their years of formation, and they now give their sons to the Lord to be at his service. What a rare blessing for the parents to have a son who is a priest! He participates in the ministry of Christ in a way that is essentially different from the laity, who share in his priesthood by the grace of Baptism. He acts in the person of Christ, the head of the Church, in the midst of his people. He makes Christ present among us.

Finally, this day has special meaning for our diocese. As we thank God for the gift of four new priests, let us be grateful, too, for the many who offer prayers for vocations each day. May the Lord continue to answer their plea. I ask everyone to pray for all our priests, especially our newly ordained, for those preparing for the priesthood and for vocations, that others may hear the Lord’s call and answer, “yes,” with willing minds and hearts.

+Bishop Raymundo J. Peña

last updated 05-Jun-2008 9:48 sitemap