2 newly ordained men thankful for gift of priesthood #Catholic – Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the morning of June 13 as Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained two seminarians as the newest priests of the Paterson Diocese, N.J. In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told the two men that Jesus calls them to “have a missionary spirit in care for those who are most in need.” The newest priests are Father Lucas Sebastian Mateo Folan, a member of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., and Father Jender Arley Medina Palencia, who was born and raised in Colombia. He served St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., as a temporary deacon before priesthood. Before the ordination, Father Folan and Father Medina both told BeaconNJ.org that they were “excited” to begin their ministries as priests. The men especially looked forward to consecrating the Eucharist and hearing confessions, and both thanked God for the beautiful “gift of the priesthood.” Bishop Sweeney, that sunny Saturday, celebrated the English and Spanish ordination Mass, rooted in early Church tradition, at St. John’s, the mother church of the diocese. [Read a detailed description of the Rite of Ordination in the story below.] Priests of the diocese and beyond concelebrated, while deacons and seminarians assisted. A broad spectrum of well-wishers — including family, friends, priests, parishioners, and diocesan faithful — attended the ordination to support the new priests. The Diocesan Choir and musicians, led by Preston Dibble, diocesan music minister and choir director, performed worship music for the Mass, which was livestreamed for family and loved ones unable to attend. “Before Christ’s pierced heart, give yourselves entirely to me so that you may love his people with the same love that he loves them,” Bishop Sweeney told the men in his homily. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. This love is our pledge as priests. If we surrender and offer ourselves completely, nothing of us will be lost,” he said. Father Medina celebrated his first Mass as a priest the next day, June 14, at St. Margaret’s in Morristown. His younger sister, Liz, traveled from their native Colombia with her boyfriend for the Masses. Other family and friends watched on a livestream. Father Medina’s first assignment as a priest will be as a parochial vicar of the cathedral. Father Folan celebrated his first Mass at Notre Dame the next day, in the presence of family and loved ones. In the fall, he will travel to Rome to complete a licentiate in sacred theology, with a focus on fundamental and dogmatic theology, at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Before that, Father Folan will serve at Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton, N.J. Also in his homily, Bishop Sweeney reminded the two men to “be true priests of the New Testament, in order to preach the Gospel. Shepherd God’s people, and celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist and reconciliation of the sacraments, especially in the Lord’s sacrifice,” he said. At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked the families of the new priests and their parishes and seminaries, which had representatives present, for nurturing their vocations. He urged the faithful at the liturgy to continue praying for the priests. Immediately following the recessional at the end of the Mass, the new priests returned to the front of St. John’s altar to give their first blessing as priests to family members and well-wishers. At the end of Mass, Bishop Sweeney told the new priests, “May God, who founded the Church and guides her still, protect you constantly with his grace that you may faithfully discharge the duties of the priesthood.” “May he make you servants and a witness and witnesses in the world to divine charity and truth and faithful ministers of reconciliation,” Bishop Sweeney continued. “May he make you two shepherds to provide the living bread and word of life to the faithful so that they may continue to grow in the unity of the one body of Christ,” he said. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Ordination liturgy steeped in rich traditions of the early Church The two newest priests for the Paterson Diocese received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and were ordained Saturday, June 13, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., in an ordination liturgy steeped in ceremony and in the rich traditions of the Church. First, the men were called forward by name. Msgr. Mark Condon, diocesan vicar general, moderator of the Curia, and pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish in Little Falls, N.J., requested that Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordain the candidates. With that, the bishop announced that he had chosen the candidates for the priesthood, and the congregation greeted the announcement with enthusiastic applause. Then the priest candidates were asked if they were willing to discharge the Office of Priesthood, to celebrate the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously, to preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, to consecrate their lives to God, and to grow closer to Christ. They knelt before the bishop, placing their hands between his, promising obedience to him and his successors. During the Litany of Saints, the candidates prostrated themselves before the altar and the bishop as a sign of humility and their total reliance on God’s grace. They received the strength of the Holy Spirit as the bishop imposed hands on them in silence. Then, the assembled priests were invited to lay hands on the seven men, part of the ancient sign of ordination. In the Prayer of Consecration, Bishop Sweeney implored God’s help so the priesthood may continue in the Church. He prayed that the dignity of the priesthood be granted to the candidates. Priests vested the newly ordained with a stole and chasuble. Then the bishop anointed the new priests’ palms with Sacred Chrism as a sign that they now share in Christ’s mission. Bishop Sweeney accepted the Offertory gifts and then, in turn, handed them to the newly ordained. The new priests and many other diocesan priests were concelebrants at the Mass. Later, the new priests exchanged the sign of peace with Bishop Sweeney and the concelebrating priests as a sign of welcome into the presbyterate. At the end of the Mass, the new priests gave their first blessing to the Bishop. Then, in front of the altar after Mass, they gave blessings to their family members and friends who had come from near and far to show their support on their ordination day. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  

Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the morning of June 13 as Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained two seminarians as the newest priests of the Paterson Diocese, N.J. In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told the two men that Jesus calls them to “have a missionary spirit in care for those who are most in need.”

The newest priests are Father Lucas Sebastian Mateo Folan, a member of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., and Father Jender Arley Medina Palencia, who was born and raised in Colombia. He served St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., as a temporary deacon before priesthood.

Before the ordination, Father Folan and Father Medina both told BeaconNJ.org that they were “excited” to begin their ministries as priests. The men especially looked forward to consecrating the Eucharist and hearing confessions, and both thanked God for the beautiful “gift of the priesthood.”

Bishop Sweeney, that sunny Saturday, celebrated the English and Spanish ordination Mass, rooted in early Church tradition, at St. John’s, the mother church of the diocese. [Read a detailed description of the Rite of Ordination in the story below.] Priests of the diocese and beyond concelebrated, while deacons and seminarians assisted.

A broad spectrum of well-wishers — including family, friends, priests, parishioners, and diocesan faithful — attended the ordination to support the new priests. The Diocesan Choir and musicians, led by Preston Dibble, diocesan music minister and choir director, performed worship music for the Mass, which was livestreamed for family and loved ones unable to attend.

“Before Christ’s pierced heart, give yourselves entirely to me so that you may love his people with the same love that he loves them,” Bishop Sweeney told the men in his homily. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. This love is our pledge as priests. If we surrender and offer ourselves completely, nothing of us will be lost,” he said.

Father Medina celebrated his first Mass as a priest the next day, June 14, at St. Margaret’s in Morristown. His younger sister, Liz, traveled from their native Colombia with her boyfriend for the Masses. Other family and friends watched on a livestream. Father Medina’s first assignment as a priest will be as a parochial vicar of the cathedral.

Father Folan celebrated his first Mass at Notre Dame the next day, in the presence of family and loved ones. In the fall, he will travel to Rome to complete a licentiate in sacred theology, with a focus on fundamental and dogmatic theology, at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Before that, Father Folan will serve at Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton, N.J.

Also in his homily, Bishop Sweeney reminded the two men to “be true priests of the New Testament, in order to preach the Gospel. Shepherd God’s people, and celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist and reconciliation of the sacraments, especially in the Lord’s sacrifice,” he said.

At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked the families of the new priests and their parishes and seminaries, which had representatives present, for nurturing their vocations. He urged the faithful at the liturgy to continue praying for the priests.

Immediately following the recessional at the end of the Mass, the new priests returned to the front of St. John’s altar to give their first blessing as priests to family members and well-wishers.

At the end of Mass, Bishop Sweeney told the new priests, “May God, who founded the Church and guides her still, protect you constantly with his grace that you may faithfully discharge the duties of the priesthood.”

“May he make you servants and a witness and witnesses in the world to divine charity and truth and faithful ministers of reconciliation,” Bishop Sweeney continued. “May he make you two shepherds to provide the living bread and word of life to the faithful so that they may continue to grow in the unity of the one body of Christ,” he said.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Ordination liturgy steeped in rich traditions of the early Church

The two newest priests for the Paterson Diocese received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and were ordained Saturday, June 13, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., in an ordination liturgy steeped in ceremony and in the rich traditions of the Church.

First, the men were called forward by name. Msgr. Mark Condon, diocesan vicar general, moderator of the Curia, and pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish in Little Falls, N.J., requested that Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordain the candidates. With that, the bishop announced that he had chosen the candidates for the priesthood, and the congregation greeted the announcement with enthusiastic applause.

Then the priest candidates were asked if they were willing to discharge the Office of Priesthood, to celebrate the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously, to preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, to consecrate their lives to God, and to grow closer to Christ. They knelt before the bishop, placing their hands between his, promising obedience to him and his successors.

During the Litany of Saints, the candidates prostrated themselves before the altar and the bishop as a sign of humility and their total reliance on God’s grace. They received the strength of the Holy Spirit as the bishop imposed hands on them in silence. Then, the assembled priests were invited to lay hands on the seven men, part of the ancient sign of ordination.

In the Prayer of Consecration, Bishop Sweeney implored God’s help so the priesthood may continue in the Church. He prayed that the dignity of the priesthood be granted to the candidates. Priests vested the newly ordained with a stole and chasuble. Then the bishop anointed the new priests’ palms with Sacred Chrism as a sign that they now share in Christ’s mission.

Bishop Sweeney accepted the Offertory gifts and then, in turn, handed them to the newly ordained. The new priests and many other diocesan priests were concelebrants at the Mass. Later, the new priests exchanged the sign of peace with Bishop Sweeney and the concelebrating priests as a sign of welcome into the presbyterate.

At the end of the Mass, the new priests gave their first blessing to the Bishop. Then, in front of the altar after Mass, they gave blessings to their family members and friends who had come from near and far to show their support on their ordination day.

2 newly ordained men thankful for gift of priesthood #Catholic –

Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., on the morning of June 13 as Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordained two seminarians as the newest priests of the Paterson Diocese, N.J. In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told the two men that Jesus calls them to “have a missionary spirit in care for those who are most in need.”

The newest priests are Father Lucas Sebastian Mateo Folan, a member of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., and Father Jender Arley Medina Palencia, who was born and raised in Colombia. He served St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., as a temporary deacon before priesthood.

Before the ordination, Father Folan and Father Medina both told BeaconNJ.org that they were “excited” to begin their ministries as priests. The men especially looked forward to consecrating the Eucharist and hearing confessions, and both thanked God for the beautiful “gift of the priesthood.”

Bishop Sweeney, that sunny Saturday, celebrated the English and Spanish ordination Mass, rooted in early Church tradition, at St. John’s, the mother church of the diocese. [Read a detailed description of the Rite of Ordination in the story below.] Priests of the diocese and beyond concelebrated, while deacons and seminarians assisted.

A broad spectrum of well-wishers — including family, friends, priests, parishioners, and diocesan faithful — attended the ordination to support the new priests. The Diocesan Choir and musicians, led by Preston Dibble, diocesan music minister and choir director, performed worship music for the Mass, which was livestreamed for family and loved ones unable to attend.

“Before Christ’s pierced heart, give yourselves entirely to me so that you may love his people with the same love that he loves them,” Bishop Sweeney told the men in his homily. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. This love is our pledge as priests. If we surrender and offer ourselves completely, nothing of us will be lost,” he said.

Father Medina celebrated his first Mass as a priest the next day, June 14, at St. Margaret’s in Morristown. His younger sister, Liz, traveled from their native Colombia with her boyfriend for the Masses. Other family and friends watched on a livestream. Father Medina’s first assignment as a priest will be as a parochial vicar of the cathedral.

Father Folan celebrated his first Mass at Notre Dame the next day, in the presence of family and loved ones. In the fall, he will travel to Rome to complete a licentiate in sacred theology, with a focus on fundamental and dogmatic theology, at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Before that, Father Folan will serve at Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton, N.J.

Also in his homily, Bishop Sweeney reminded the two men to “be true priests of the New Testament, in order to preach the Gospel. Shepherd God’s people, and celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist and reconciliation of the sacraments, especially in the Lord’s sacrifice,” he said.

At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Sweeney thanked the families of the new priests and their parishes and seminaries, which had representatives present, for nurturing their vocations. He urged the faithful at the liturgy to continue praying for the priests.

Immediately following the recessional at the end of the Mass, the new priests returned to the front of St. John’s altar to give their first blessing as priests to family members and well-wishers.

At the end of Mass, Bishop Sweeney told the new priests, “May God, who founded the Church and guides her still, protect you constantly with his grace that you may faithfully discharge the duties of the priesthood.”

“May he make you servants and a witness and witnesses in the world to divine charity and truth and faithful ministers of reconciliation,” Bishop Sweeney continued. “May he make you two shepherds to provide the living bread and word of life to the faithful so that they may continue to grow in the unity of the one body of Christ,” he said.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Ordination liturgy steeped in rich traditions of the early Church

The two newest priests for the Paterson Diocese received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and were ordained Saturday, June 13, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., in an ordination liturgy steeped in ceremony and in the rich traditions of the Church.

First, the men were called forward by name. Msgr. Mark Condon, diocesan vicar general, moderator of the Curia, and pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish in Little Falls, N.J., requested that Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney ordain the candidates. With that, the bishop announced that he had chosen the candidates for the priesthood, and the congregation greeted the announcement with enthusiastic applause.

Then the priest candidates were asked if they were willing to discharge the Office of Priesthood, to celebrate the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously, to preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, to consecrate their lives to God, and to grow closer to Christ. They knelt before the bishop, placing their hands between his, promising obedience to him and his successors.

During the Litany of Saints, the candidates prostrated themselves before the altar and the bishop as a sign of humility and their total reliance on God’s grace. They received the strength of the Holy Spirit as the bishop imposed hands on them in silence. Then, the assembled priests were invited to lay hands on the seven men, part of the ancient sign of ordination.

In the Prayer of Consecration, Bishop Sweeney implored God’s help so the priesthood may continue in the Church. He prayed that the dignity of the priesthood be granted to the candidates. Priests vested the newly ordained with a stole and chasuble. Then the bishop anointed the new priests’ palms with Sacred Chrism as a sign that they now share in Christ’s mission.

Bishop Sweeney accepted the Offertory gifts and then, in turn, handed them to the newly ordained. The new priests and many other diocesan priests were concelebrants at the Mass. Later, the new priests exchanged the sign of peace with Bishop Sweeney and the concelebrating priests as a sign of welcome into the presbyterate.

At the end of the Mass, the new priests gave their first blessing to the Bishop. Then, in front of the altar after Mass, they gave blessings to their family members and friends who had come from near and far to show their support on their ordination day.