While the music, the readings and even some of the prayers are different, the order of the ritual of Ordination to the priesthood is the same.  That was clear to me as I concelebrated the Ordination to priesthood of my nephew Stephen, as well as Michael Johns, Daniel Ramos and Joseph Deabagozo last Saturday at Christ the King in Little Rock.  The candidates for priesthood made promises to God through the bishop, to exercise their priestly ministry with great devotion, attention and care, and they promised obedience to the bishop and his successors in the office of bishop for our diocese.  We prayed the Litany of Saints as the candidates lay prostrate on the floor outside the sanctuary.  The bishop then, after saying a long prayer of consecration, "laid hands" on the candidates heads as "THE" primary moment of Ordination as the ancient "passing on" of Holy Orders through the Holy Spirit comes upon the priests and they received the eternal character of priesthood.  After the concelebrating priests also laid hands on the priests, the new priests had their hands consecrated by the hands of the bishop with Sacred Chrism, then they were vested with the priests stole and chasuble (the latter of which I put over my nephews head), and after being greeted warmly by the bishop and all the priests present, the bishop presented them the chalice and paten through which they will celebrate Mass countless times for the rest of their lives.  The newly-ordained priests then took their place behind the bishop at the altar and along with the rest of the priests, concelebrated the rest of the Mass.

Though it was a long liturgy (lasting almost two and one-half hours), like the Easter Vigil, I believe it flowed in such a way that it didn't seem that long.  Those who participated in the Mass are rewarded in a number of ways INCLUDING receiving the first blessing from the newly-ordained priests at the end of Mass.

Right before that blessing, the bishop thanked all those who had any part in bringing these men to the priesthood.  I hope you know that many of our parishioners, though not mentioned by name, should surely be included in that number as we have made it a priority to support vocations to the priesthood in the Diocese of Little Rock.  I want to thank you, on behalf of the bishop, the newly-ordained priests (eight in all) and myself, for your prayers and support for these and the others who have been ordained in recent years as well as those still in formation including our own parishioner, Jonathan Semmler.  I also want to invite you to reserve the date of Friday, July 27, as that is the date for our annual fundraising dinner for our Seminarians.  Our bishop, Monsignor Friend and seminarians will join us and a few priests, including we hope, one of our newly-ordained priests.  It promises to be a great experience for all who speak loudly once again of our love for the priesthood and for our seminarians who are preparing for a life of service to the Lord and his Gospel!

My mother's birthday is coming up in July and once again I ask myself; "What can I get her?"  Like many people, she is a hard one to "buy for," especially at this point in her life.  One thing that I can get her that is truly "priceless" is a Mass offered for her intention.  I know many of us think of offering a Mass for someone who is deceased, which of course is a good thing to do and is always appreciated by the family members of the deceased (and no doubt, the deceased person as well who possibly or probably will benefit from a Mass offered for them).  Since the Catholic Church has always taught and encouraged intercessory prayer, and the Mass is the source and summit of the Church's prayer life, it follows that offering a Mass for a living or deceased person is the highest form of prayer that can be offered for a person.  The priest who celebrates the Mass is the one who is lifting up the person to the Lord, so it is not necessary for the person who is asking for the Mass to be offered, to be present for that Mass, though it is certainly good for the requestor to be there.

The Diocese of Little Rock has set the Mass stipend (which goes to the material support of the priest in his ministry) to be $10.  Please know that this is a suggested donation and is not required when one asks for a Mass to be offered here at Sacred Heart Church.

Mass Intention request envelopes are avalable in the narthex or in the Church office during office hours.  Linda will try to oblige requests for specific days for a Mass to be offered for someone, and Mass cards are available for you to send to the deceased person's family member or the person for whom the Mass is offered.  If, your requested date is already taken (especially for an anniversary or say, a birthday), an attempt will be made to schedule that Mass as close to the date requested as possible.  Right now, our calendar has quite a few openings, so we are going to do our best NOT to offer Mass for more than one requested intention.  Be aware when more than one intention is offered at a Mass, the priest only gets the stipend for one intention and the other one goes to the Clergy Welfare Fund which cares for the needs of our sick and retired diocesan priests.  Please know that if you have specific dates in mind for Masses, it's always best to tget these scheduled as early as possible.

The newly canonized, Pope Paul VI is quoted in his lifetime as saying:  "The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!"  It has immense power, and countless miracles and conversions have occurred through the centuries by offering Mass for a specific person or intention.  I know my mother will appreciate the gift of a Mass for her more than any material gift I can give her.  I hope you have the same feeling about it whether it is for you or for someone else!

You may or may not have seen in the bulletin, a notice which says that I am going to start offering the Sacrament of the Anointing at least quarterly; and initially, I'm going to try doing it monthly.  This Sacrament bestows the blessings of healing, peace, and courage to those who are ill or whose health has deteriorated due to age.  The Sacrament was formally known as "Extreme Unction" and used to be given only to the dying as a preparation for a person passing from this life to the Lord.  With the Advent of Vatican II, the Church broadened the reception of the Sacrament of Anointing to those with serious or chronic illness of mind, body, and/or spirit.  The tricky category (especially in the Village) is the elderly whose health is getting fragile due to age.  Rather than set an age minimum on who can receive this Sacrament, I will instead, read the prayer that is said after an elderly person is anointed in hopes that this indicates by its wording who among the elderly should approach this sacrament.  I would ask you, in the Mass setting of administering the sacrament, that you receive it (if you qualify for it) no more than 4 times a year.  The next anointing will happen this coming First Friday during the 9:00 a.m. Mass.

The prayer I spoke of goes as follows:

God of mercy,
Look kindly on your servant
Who has grown weak under the burden of years.

In this holy anointing
He/she asks for healing in body and soul.

Fill him/her with the strength of your Holy Spirit.
Keep him/her firm in faith and serene in hope,
So that he/she may give us all
an example of patience
And joyfully witness to the power of your love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Remember, the influence of a sacrament on us starts with God's power but also includes a faith-filled disposition in the recipient!