SALT LAKE CITY — In two joy-filled ceremonies, one May 16 at St. Ann Church, and the other May 18 in the Cathedral of the Madeleine, men were ordained to the diaconate and to the priesthood for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.
St. Ann Church in Salt Lake City was the setting for the ordination to the diaconate of José Gregorio Rausseo Gómez of Salt Lake City, a native of Venezuela and Manuel de Jesús Cerón Valdez of Ciudad de Sonora, Mexico. Their diaconate ordination by Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco marks their deeper commitment and the beginning of their final year of studies for the priesthood. Both men are attending Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon.
In a history-making ceremony two days later, Archbishop Niederauer ordained four men to the priesthood for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. The ordinations of Fathers Óscar Alfredo Martinez Tobón, Omar Ontiveros García, Óscar Martín Picos Rentería, and John Joseph Schwall, marked the first time since at least 1940 that four men were ordained for the diocese in the Cathedral of the Madeleine at the same time.
The ordination ceremonies were similar, each one calling the elect (those seeking to be ordained) to deeper commitment, respect, and obedience to the bishop. Because the Diocese of Salt Lake City is currently without a bishop, Archbishop Niederauer ordained the men, eliciting their promises of chastity and obedience on behalf of the yet unnamed ordinary.
"For the shepherding and continual increase of the people of God, Christ the Lord instituted in his Church various ministries that work together for the good of the whole body," Archbishop Niederauer began each ceremony. "By virtue of the Sacrament of Orders, in the image of Christ the eternal high priest, presbyters are consecrated to preach the Gospel, to shepherd the faithful, and to celebrate divine worship as true priests of the New Testament."
The four new priests, after a brief visit with their families, will begin their assigned work in parishes in Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake City, and Cedar City. The new deacons will undertake their final year of study and pastoral ministry.
In a touching moment before each ceremony the elect knelt before their families for blessings symbolizing the families granting their permission, in love, for their sons to serve the Catholic Church. Parents, family members, and friends traveled hundreds of miles and across borders to participate in the ceremony.
The newly ordained deacons, who are charged with preaching and teaching the Word, the Book of Gospels was given special significance in the ceremony. For the new priests, who can now consecrate the bread and wine, transforming it into the Body and Blood of Christ, the chalice and paten were given special roles in the ordination ceremony.
The new priests and deacons reflect the changing face of the Catholic Church in Utah, with five of the six coming from Spanish-speaking countries.
In his homily during the Mass for the Ordination of Deacons, Archbishop Niederauer said, " Let us listen as Jesus tells us about the vocation we all share as Christians. Let us listen also for the meaning of the special call Jesus gives to Manuel and José, as deacons now, and later on as priests. We will hear how these two candidates, and all of us, are called and chosen.
"We Christians are chosen for closeness with Jesus Christ: ‘As the Father loves me, so also I love you. Remain in my love.’ Just as the secret at the heart of the life of Jesus was his closeness to his Father, so the secret of our life must be our closeness to Christ. The word ‘remain’ here means ‘dwell’ – dwell in my love. It’s important for you to understand, that lifelong service in the priesthood demands, and gives, a special closeness to Jesus Christ. People need to be able to say about you, José and Manuel, what the servant girl said to Peter in the courtyard of the High Priest on Holy Thursday night: ‘Surely you are one of the companions of Jesus, because even your speech gives you away.’"
He called the new priests to love the people they have been called to serve.
"...Saint Paul tells Timothy to live what he preaches, because the people will know it if he does not. Óscar and J.J. and Óscar and Omar will need for their own spiritual lives every gift that God gives to the people through them. The priest needs prayer, the Scriptures, the teachings of the Church, Eucharist, the forgiveness of his sins, and the companionship of other believers on his journey of faith.
At one point during each ceremony, the elect lay prostrate before the altar while Archbishop Niederauer prayed, "that God the all-powerful Father will pour out abundantly the gifts of heaven on these, his servants..." Then, the choirs chanted the Litany of the Saints.
"Saint Paul tells Timothy – tells our four candidates here this evening – how to remain an authentic priestly minister: with love and faithfulness and purity."
As the ordinations were concluded, the deacons vested in the stole and dalmatic of their ministry and took their places to assist at the altar for the rest of the Mass.
The newly ordained priests, vested in stoles and chasubles, participated in the Mass’ Consecration.
Both ceremonies emphasized the important role of service to which each of the six newly ordained are called. The ordination of priests included the anointing of their hands with the Oil of Chrism, "that you may sanctify the Christian people and offer sacrifice to God."
In interviews with the Intermountain Catholic the new priests spoke of the deep meaning the ceremony and their new ministries have for them. Fr. Ontiveros said these two days of ordinations prove "that God is still with his church. There will be big pressures and a lot of responsibilities, but I continue to be amazed by the way God moves in me. This is a humbling experience."
Fr. Picos said he was inspired to seek the priesthood after observing the work of Father Clarence Sandoval, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Logan.
"I see myself as a forgiving priest because God has forgiven me so much," he said. "I started this process with many fears, but with prayer and spiritual direction, I have overcome the fear, and now I feel great happiness."
Fr. Schwall, who attended Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, Wisc., spoke of a number of careers he’s undertaken that eventually led to the seminary and the priesthood.
"There is a lot of hope that goes into these ordinations, like the hope that goes into marriages. There are a lot of remarkable people who have had a part in my becoming a priest. They are woven into who I am now, and I will carry a part of them with me now everywhere I go. I will say to each of them, ‘What you have given me, I’m going to give back.’"
Fr. Martínez, who began his seminary studies in Columbia and finished them at Mount Angel, said he has learned that, "God has been behind everything I’ve done.
"The ordination ceremony impacted me deeply," he said. "It impressed upon me how the Catholic Church has kept the traditions of the early church and the apostles for 2,000 years. It came down to the laying on of hands, which has been a symbol of the priesthood since the beginning. This is the church, and I am so proud of our keeping that meaningful tradition."
The next three months will be a whirlwind for the Utah church’s six new clergy. For the priests, there will be Thanksgiving Masses here and in their home countries. Fr. Schwall will celebrate his thanksgiving Mass in his mother’s home church in Las Vegas, with a reception in a casino.
In August, they will be in Utah parishes, preaching, teaching, and serving, as God has called them.
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