Ordination of a friend

I just finished watching the loved stream Mass of ordination of a young man in the archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa – Joseph Sevcik.

A few years ago, he accompanied Fr. Jon Seda on a visit to our parish here in Honduras in January 2014. He made a good impression on our pastor, Padre German Navarro, and me. 

In Aldea Nueva, Concepción

In the church of San Antonio, Dulce Nombre de Copán

It was with great joy that I saw him ordained - via live-streaming.

The Mass was simple – Archbishop Michael Jackels, Fr. Jon Seda (vocation director of the archdiocese), the newly ordained Fr. Joseph, as well as some of his family members.

What especially struck me was the homily of Archbishop Jackels. It was short and straight to the point. Drawing on his experience of the recent funerals of some priests, he noted that the good priest is a man of kindness, joy, and love of the poor. He also designated the three he was ordaining this week as “Pope Francis priests.” He especially reminded Father Joseph to be one who “goes to the peripheries.”

What an insightful challenge to Father Joseph and to all priests (and to us deacons)

Be kind.Be joyful.Love the poor.Go to the peripheries, the marginal places of this world.

I also noted that the three readings pointed to God’s choice of the young. Jeremiah protested that he was too young (Jeremiah 1: 7). Paul wrote Timothy, “Let no one have contempt for your youth” (1 Timothy 4: 12).

Let us continue to make places in our world and in our church for the young. This old fogey wants the prophecy of Joel (Joel 3:1, cited in the Acts of the Apostles 2:17) to come true:

…your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.

Blessings, Padre Chepito, you “young” whipper-snapper.

As our pastor, Padre German, wrote: 

Que sea mensajero de esperanza y portador de la Alegría del Evangelio donde crecen los muros del miedo y las casas de la angustia.
May you be a messenger of hope and a bearer of the Joy of the Gospel where the walls of fear and the anguished houses are increasing.