Bishop Michael F. Burbidge ordained eight men to the priesthood June 4 at a standing-room-only Mass at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington. The ordinandi are Fathers Philip D. Briggs, Peter J. Clem, YA, John F. O’Farrell, C. Mauricio Portillo, Robert C. Renner, Daniel S. Reuwer, Daniel A. Rice and Peter J. St. George.
Bishop Burbidge observed that the eight men are “on fire with the fire of the Holy Spirit” — a fact he said was confirmed earlier that morning by a transformer fire in the chancery building next door to the cathedral. He said one of the ordinandi commented that it must be a special sign. “All is calm and all is well now” at the chancery, Bishop Burbidge said, “but the fire of the Holy Spirit will never be extinguished.”
In his homily, the Bishop noted that each year, the diocese produces one-minute videos on each of the men being ordained, and “it is amazing to see how such short videos reveal their characters and personalities. It was easy to see their holiness, joy and zeal,” he said.
He said that three words kept surfacing in all of the videos, in one form or another: thanksgiving, service, and trust. “The candidates expressed thankfulness first of all to God who, as the prophet Jeremiah tells us (in the first Mass reading) today, formed them in the womb and now appoints them to go forth as his anointed ones, his priests. I was so inspired as I heard each of them begin the video by saying with a thankful heart: ‘I will soon be ordained a priest of Jesus Christ,’ ” Bishop Burbidge said.
Looking around the packed assembly, he noted that “a spirit of thanksgiving is certainly evident in this cathedral today because we will soon witness a tremendous work of God when, through the imposition of hands and prayer of ordination, the handing on of the ministerial priesthood will be accomplished and these men: your sons, brothers, family members and friends, will soon be uniquely and forever configured to the very person of Jesus Christ. We are thankful to their parents, seminary formators and all who played a role in guiding them to this special day in their lives.”
He told the ordinandi that they are being sent forth “at a challenging and difficult time in our world,” and noted the emotional toll of these past few years, when many struggled, but also turned to the Lord as never before. “Dear candidates, this is exactly what is at the heart of your priestly service: to uplift your parishioners’ faith and hope in the Lord, the one alone who sustains us. You will do so as you preach his Word, remembering the message of St. Paul: ‘We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord.’
“Preach the truth in love,” Bishop Burbidge said, adding, “God’s people deserve and need nothing less.”
He said he sometimes is concerned that the men about to be ordained priests “could be overwhelmed as they listen to all that is expected of them. Remember, dear candidates, your trust in the Lord.” He noted that Pope Francis often highlights priests’ need for “closeness in their ministry”: closeness to their bishop, to their brother priests, to the people they serve and, especially, closeness to God.
“Your closeness to God and constant seeking of the help of Mary and Joseph will sustain your spirit of thanksgiving and your desire to offer faithful and sacrificial priestly service to Our Lord, his Church, and his people, with profound trust in his promise to be with you today and forever. Go forth in the joy and strength of the Holy Spirit,” he concluded.
The eight men, called forward by name, promised to worthily carry out their priestly office: preaching the Gospel, celebrating the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation, praying for the people entrusted to their care and uniting themselves ever more closely to Christ as his priests. Each knelt before the Bishop, put their hands in his, and promised respect and obedience to him and his successors, with the words “I do.”
During the moving Litany of Supplication, the ordinandi lay prostrate before the altar as the Litany of Saints was sung. They went one by one to kneel again before the Bishop, as he lay his hands on each of their heads in blessing. Then 120 priests of the diocese who were in attendance placed their hands on each of the men’s heads. As they returned to their places and knelt, the Bishop prayed the Prayer of Ordination.
Then the newly ordained stood and were assisted in vesting with stole and chasuble by: Father Peter M. McShurley for Father Briggs; Youth Apostles Father John P. “Jack” Peterson for Father Clem, YA; Father Stephen Vaccaro for Father O’Farrell; Father Christopher J. Pollard for Father Portillo; Father John O’Donohue for Father Renner; Msgr. Vincent Brady for Father Reuwer (his childhood pastor who flew over from England); Father Nicholas Blank for Father Rice; and Father Reed Frey, C.O., for Father St. George.
The newly ordained knelt before the Bishop as he anointed the palms of their hands with holy chrism. After they washed and returned, he placed a paten with bread and a chalice of wine in the hands of each. The Bishop then gave each of the newly ordained the fraternal kiss, as did the other priests in attendance.
The new priests then gathered around the altar to concelebrate the Mass. In a moving final part of the ceremony, each went to Bishop Burbidge, who knelt before them for a blessing. As the newly ordained processed down the center aisle of the cathedral, they were met with cheers and long applause.
Outside after Mass, friends and relatives lined up under the shade of canopy tents for hugs and the traditional first blessings from the newly ordained.
David Lima of Stafford, an assistant superintendent with the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools, waited in line with his family outside Father Reuwer’s tent. They taught together years ago at St. William of York School in Stafford, and Father Reuwer taught a couple of his children. “He always had a presence of God about him,” Lima said.
Cathy Wright of Springfield, who teaches communications at George Mason University in Fairfax, waited in a long line to greet Father Clem, who she said had been one of her students. “He can connect with all kinds of people,” she said, adding that his love of pop culture makes him especially able to relate to young people.
“I feel, in one word, joy,” Father Clem said. “It’s really hard to look out and not cry seeing my whole life before me. I keep thinking of the words, ‘No greater gift than to lay down my life for one’s friends,’ and that is what I’m doing. It’s a blessing and a gift to lay down my life for my friends and family.”
The new priests will serve as parochial vicars: Father Briggs at St. Philip Church in Falls Church; Father Clem at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria; Father O’Farrell at St. Theresa Church in Ashburn; Father Portillo at Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling; Father Renner at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Fredericksburg; Father Reuwer at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas; Father Rice at Holy Family Church in Dale City, and Father St. George at Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria.
The new priests will celebrate their first Masses on the Solemnity of Pentecost, June 5.
Contributing to this story was Ashleigh Kassock.
Find out more
Watch the profile videos: bit.ly/2022-Ordinandi
