A Pre-Ordination Vigil was held June 5 at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown, where members of the faithful gathered with Bishop Alfred Schlert to pray for the six men who would be ordained as priests the following day: Rev. Mr. Dominic Civitella, Rev. Mr. Tyler Davis, Rev. Mr. Tyler Loch, Rev. Mr. Anh Do Mai, Rev. Mr. Hy James Gia Ngô, and Rev. Mr. Jeffrey Tomczyk.
The Holy Hour opened with the Rite of Consecration of Patens and Chalices, which sanctified the sacred vessels that would be used by the newly ordained in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Bishop Schlert anointed the patens and chalices with sacred chrism while reciting the Latin words of consecration, thus elevating them from things of common use to instruments of divine service.
At the conclusion of the rite of Consecration of Patens and Chalices was Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, accompanied by Evening Prayer and the singing of the hymn “Vir Celse Forma Fulgida” (O Model of Such Virtue Bright), whose verses focus on the priestly office.
Preaching the homily at the vigil was Father Stephan Isaac, Chaplain at Bethlehem Catholic High School and Lehigh University Newman Center.
“Brothers, the harvest is abundant,” he told the ordinandi. “The world is starving for truth, goodness, and beauty. The world needs you, because the world needs Christ.”
Father Isaac referenced Pope St. John Paul II when he described the Priesthood as both “a gift and a mystery.”
“Priesthood is a marvelous gift. It is also a mystery that the infinite God would call us weak, poor, imperfect sinners to be His coworkers in grace, and His collaborators for the work of salvation. How good, loving, and merciful is God!”
Father Isaac shared with the ordinandi the “sobering reality” that “the evil one and his minions will have targets on your backs until the day you die.” Exhorting them not to be afraid, he asserted that “the priest is ordained to fight evil, and as a priest of Jesus Christ, your ministry is a ministry of victory.”
In a reference to St. Joseph’s “epic title,” Father Isaac said, “As you love and serve the souls entrusted to your care, be joyful ‘terrors to demons!’”
Father Isaac strongly urged devotion to Our Lady, especially during this, the Diocese’s 65th anniversary year, which has also been declared a Marian year.
“Mary is our spiritual mother [and] the mother of priests. Let Our Blessed Mother love you, help you, guide you, and protect you,” he said. “On the eve of your Priesthood, all of Hell is trembling with fear, and all of Heaven is rejoicing with great love.”
After the homily, the Cathedral Choir sang the beautiful antiphon “O Christ, Good Shepherd, I thank You for leading me to glory; I pray that the flock You have entrusted to my care will share with me in Your glory forever.”
More than 100 of the faithful lifted their voices in both petition and song as they took part in the chanting of the “Magnificat” and the offering of intercessions before reciting the “Litany of Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim,” a favorite prayer of Pope St. John Paul II.
Bishop Schlert led the litany, which ended with a plea that “worthy and faithful stewards of the sacred mysteries” would direct their people “along the way of salvation under Your protection.”
The Vigil of Ordination may be viewed on the Diocese of Allentown YouTube channel.
Photos by Vargas Photography.
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