In front of hundreds of members of the Neocatechumenal Way, Deacon Victor Lujano was ordained for the Archdiocese of Perth last Friday night at St Mary’s Cathedral by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.
The momentous occasion was celebrated first-hand by an enthusiastic congregation, made-up mostly of local followers of the Neocatechumenal Way, an ecclesial movement with communities and associates in parishes throughout Perth.
Several of the Venezuelan-born priest’s relatives, including his mother and sister, travelled from the South American country especially to celebrate his ordination.
Fr Lujano received his seminary formation at the Neocatechumenal Way-administered Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Morley.
Fr Lujano’s presence, Archbishop Costelloe said, was a function of God’s “extraordinary fidelity”.
“As each of us looks back on our own, sometimes puzzling and surprising, and perhaps, at times, disappointing story; we will see, if we look hard enough, that it is the extraordinary faithfulness of God which is that common thread running through the ups and downs of our lives,” the Archbishop said in his homily.
“Victor, as you stand on the verge of this extraordinary moment of grace in your life and as you contemplate the enormity of what will lie ahead of you, you can afford to put your trust in God because God is always faithful.”
A priest is someone who is ordained and sent out to be a living sign of God’s love for his people, the Archbishop said.
“We will not be able to be all that God is asking us to be unless we have the ministry of the ordained priesthood to assist us.
“It is you Victor who, through your priesthood, will enable the rest of us to be and become, what God is calling us to be and become.
“It is through you, together with your brother priests, in communion with your bishop and the Universal Church that the Good Shepherd will continue to be among his flock; calling us together; leading us to good pastures; protecting us against those who would attack us and would destroy us.
“All of this will only be true to the extent that you love him with all heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And only if you continue to love his people as you love yourself,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
During established ceremony, Fr Lujano’s hands were annointed with the sacred oil of chrism by Archbishop Costelloe for the exercise of his priestly ministry.
The parishioners of Good Shepherd Lockridge, where then-Deacon Lujano had been based, raised almost $4,000 to bring his mother and sister from Venezuela to Perth for his ordination, as reported in The Record earlier this month.
Looking delighted after his ordination, Father Lujano received his family in one of the chapels of the Cathedral to give them his first blessings as a Catholic priest.
Afterwards, hundreds of friends gathered for a reception in the Cathedral’s parish centre.
Fr Lujano celebrated his thanksgiving Mass at Good Shepherd parish last Sunday morning.