By Stephen Gorddard
St Charles Seminary second year student
ARCHBISHOP Barry Hickey received four young men as candidates for the priesthood on 15 June.
Francis Birrell, Thomas Zureich, Mark Baumgarten and Anibal Leite da Cunha were received as candidates for the priesthood by Archbishop Hickey at St Charles Seminary in Guildford.
In an intimate ceremony, believed to be the first of its kind in St Charles Seminary, the Archbishop met with candidates for the diaconate at the Guildford seminary for them to make a solemn profession of faith, a solemn petition for the reception of the Order of Diaconate, before finally declaring their solemn commitment to celibacy.
Gathering in the Seminary’s chapel before the Archbishop, with Rector Mgr Kevin Long looking on, Daniel, Cyprian, Emmanuel, Anibal Leite da Cunha and Francis Birrell put their hands on a Bible placed in the middle of the altar and made their profession, petition and declaration of celibacy.
The profession of faith, petition and celibacy declaration were then signed by each of the candidates and witnessed by the Archbishop.
The candidates spoke of how moving and inspiring an experience it was for them to be making their declarations with their fellow candidates in front of the Archbishop.
“It was very edifying,” said one candidate.
“He met with each of us individually afterwards for a casual chat about how things were going and to get to know each of us even more.”
After already beginning much of their formation, admission to candidacy is an important affirmation of the call to priesthood, and a heightening of more serious preparation in readiness to be ordained.
Then, on 18 June, Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton bestowed the ministry of Lector to Francis Birrell, Mark Baumgarten, Trigo Ngoma, Simeon San, Cyprian Shikokoti and Conor Steadman and the ministry of Acolyte to Francis, Natale Florio and Quy Lam at St Charles Seminary.
During his homily before the institution of the ministries, he spoke to the seminarians about the importance of their witness through the proclamation of the Word of God and the service of others.
The function of a lector or reader is to proclaim the Word of God, except for the Gospel, in Mass.
In specially instituting these six young men to this ministry, they will strive to increase their efforts in acquiring an increasingly warm love and deeper knowledge of Sacred Scripture to assist their proclamation of it. The acolytes are appointed in order to assist the deacon and the priest in the liturgical celebrations, especially in the celebration of Mass. They assist in distributing Holy Communion as an extraordinary minister, exposing the Blessed Sacrament for adoration and reposing it among other important services.
According to “The Rite of Institution of Readers and Acolytes”, from The Rites of the Catholic Church, a collection of liturgical rites and texts as revised by mandate of the Second Vatican Council under Pope Paul VI, Acolytes should learn all matters concerning public divine worship, and their spiritual meanings, while being an example through their service to all.
Five seminarians will also be ordained to the deaconate on 20 August at Mary MacKillop Church in Ballajura – four for the Archdiocese of Perth (Daniel Boyd, Cyprian Shikokoti, Emmanuel Di Mobi and Anibal Leite da Cunha) and one for the Diocese of Broome (Francis Birrell), making a total of seven St Charles Seminary students being ordained deacons in their transition to the priesthood this year already.
That total will increase to eight in October with another seminarian, Mark Payton, set to be ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Perth while completing studies at the North American College in Rome.
What candidates for the diaconate pledged to the Archbishop, Church and
the people of God on 15 June:
l The Profession of Faith
Recited the Nicene Creed.
Promised to “hold all and everything concerning doctrines of faith and morals which have been defined by the Church …” and to acknowledge the mystery of the Church, her Sacraments and the primacy of the Pope.
l Declaration before Ordination to Diaconate
A petition for the reception of the Order of Diaconate: “I acknowledge that I know fully the burdens and other consequences that flow from the said sacred Order, and these I freely wish and propose to assume and, with the grace of God, I resolve to keep them most faithfully during my whole life.”
“… I am prepared to give an example of virtue in work and in word …”
l Celibacy Declaration
“I ______, confirm that I understand the full meaning of celibacy in the life of a priest, and promise with God’s help, to observe this way of life.”
This statement particularly is fully written out by the Candidate who then reads it out before finally signing it, along with the Archbishop. Highlights the significance and seriousness of this particular declaration and the committedness of the candidates who accept its challenge.
This is signed by the candidate and witnessed by the Archbishop.