By Matthew Hodgson
Seminary of the Good Shepherd
SYDNEY Cardinal George Pell ordained six men to the priesthood of Jesus Christ on 11 June at St Mary’s Cathedral – the largest group of ordinands in Sydney since 1983.
The newly ordained priests – Fr Nen Dang, 56, Fr Robert Doohan, 47, Fr Joseph Gedeon, 37, Fr Kim Ha, 36, Fr Andrew James, 36 and Fr Joseph Guinea, 31, will all serve the Church in the Archdiocese of Sydney.
The ordinations took place on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the last major feast in the Year for Priests, which closed on that same day.
In his homily during the Ordination Mass, Cardinal Pell thanked God for the generosity of the candidates and for the efforts of the formation staff in preparing the men for ordination (both past and present).
Cardinal Pell spelled out the attributes required of a priest. He said they need to be “strong, wise and compassionate” and that they need to “do the hard things that their people need them to do.”
In addition to being pastors of their established flock, they also need to be fishermen and bring in new people.
The Cardinal referred to the New Evangelisation as an essential element of a priestly ministry in the 21st century.
He emphasised the instructions of the late Pope John Paul II: “Preach outside the traditional communities.”
The Cardinal then looked to the future.
He noted the huge population increases expected in the Archdiocese of Sydney and appealed passionately to young men in the congregation.
“We need help,” Cardinal Pell told the congregation gathered for the ordinations.
“There have to be young men here tonight thinking about becoming a priest. Come. Step forward.”
He also urged young women to step forward and enquire about a vocation to the Religious or consecrated life.
In line with tradition, the newly ordained priests went out to all corners of the Archdiocese to celebrate “Thanksgiving Masses.”
Fr Joseph Gedeon celebrated his Thanksgiving Mass at Holy Family Church in Maroubra on 13 June.
At his invitation, the homily was preached by Fr Anthony Percy, Rector of the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in Sydney.
Fr Percy reflected on major elements of the formation process: “the seminary is a long and testing experience … [seminarians] need to go into the desert with Christ: pray for them.”
Fr Percy also reflected on the symbolism of the ordination ceremony itself.
He pointed to the ordinands’ prostration as a symbol of their emptying themselves in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The laying on of hands by the Bishop is a sign of the coming of the Spirit and the laying on of hands by all concelebrating priests present is a sign of the unity of the priesthood.
Ordination, however, is just the start, Fr Percy said.
“The big question you must answer, Fr Joe, is this: are you weak enough to be a priest?” Fr Percy asked.
Fr Percy went on to clarify this question: “We have been chosen because we are weak, not because of our gifts and talents.
“God chooses the weak to make them strong,” Fr Percy said.
He instructed Fr Joseph to know his limitations and know Christ.
“You will be a great priest if you do this – you will change the world,” he said.
After his Thanksgiving Mass, Fr Joseph, who grew up in Lebanon, described his state of mind in one word: “overwhelmed.”
He paid tribute to St Rafqa, a Lebanese Maronite Nun, as the main inspiration to following his call to the priesthood.
Providentially, the commemoration of the canonisation of St Rafqa is 10 June, the day before Fr Joseph’s ordination date. When asked what he was most looking forward to in his priestly ministry, Fr Joseph replied, “serving the people of God.”
– Matthew Hodgson is studying at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd for priesthood in the Archdiocese of Perth