New priests bring to us a heart for God

You ordained four men to the priesthood last Saturday at St. Louis Cathedral. Can you share your feelings about ordaining Fathers Cory Ford, Kevin Seay, David Doyle and Long Thanh Pham to the priesthood?

They come from very different backgrounds, life experiences and families of origin, and they are all faith-filled men who have said yes to God’s call, which they have heard in the depths of their hearts. I am given the privilege to confirm the call of God through the church and to ordain them.

It’s a beautiful liturgy that is filled with meaning, and, yet, it’s quite simple at the same time. They are called by the deacon and then presented by the vocation director, who gives testimony that they are prepared to be ordained and that they have answered the call of God and his church through their studies, discernment and formation. The key part of the ordination rite is the laying on of hands and the prayer of priestly ordination, which relates back to the time of the apostles more than 2,000 years ago. The apostles prayed over the men they had chosen to be priests, laid hands on them and called down the gift of the Holy Spirit upon them. We do exactly the same thing today. Also, I was privileged during the liturgy to anoint their hands in order that they may touch the sacred, consecrate and bless. They were given the chalice and the paten not only as a sign of their celebrating the Eucharist, but also of their uniting themselves to the mystery of the Lord’s cross and embracing both the joys and the challenges of priestly ministry in the name of Christ.

They were also given the priestly vestments of a chasuble and stole and concelebrated the Mass with their fellow priests and the bishops. It is a humble privilege for me to ordain someone. It’s interesting that a bishop can delegate most of the things he does to others, but the rite of ordination is to be celebrated only by a bishop.

What do you know about the four new priests?

Obviously, I believe these men have been called, and I have gotten to know them in their years in the seminary. Cory Ford attended St. Ben’s and then went on to Notre Dame Seminary, and the other three men did their theological studies at Notre Dame. It’s always a privilege and a pleasure to ordain men that you know well and believe in their call to the priesthood. It’s like being a proud father!

You mentioned that vocations to the priesthood and religious life involve many people.

Yes. I’m very thankful to those who have encouraged them along the way. I certainly think of their parents, who have given them the gift of life and faith, as well as other members of their family and the faculty and staff of the seminary who have been part of their formation. I think too often we underestimate the influence of the seminary faculty and staff in the way in which they form them. I like the image from the prophet Jeremiah, who talked about God’s hands forming us like clay in the hands of a potter. That is what priestly formation  is all about – being formed by the hands of God and God using other human beings to assist in that formation.

As we reflect on vocations to the priesthood, we extend thanks to the rector of St. Joseph Seminary College, Father Gregory Boquet, O.S.B., and his staff; the rector of Notre Dame Seminary, Father Joshua Rodrigue, and his staff; our vocation director, Father Colm Cahill, and all who work with him; and others who promote vocations; Father Billy O’Riordan, who has been director of seminarians for nine years, and all priests.

What’s the current snapshot of vocations in the archdiocese?

It is good. Just two weeks ago we rejoiced at the diaconate ordination of three men, who are on the road to priesthood next year. We also have a good number of men applying to the seminary for this fall, which is very good news. I ask everyone to pray for these men’s discernment and also for others to hear and respond to God’s call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life and consecrated virginity.

Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to [email protected].