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The suspension of the Sunday Mass obligation has been extended through the month of July. The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Savannah Vol. 100 No. 13 Thursday, June 23,2020 Put Faith in Your Opinions southerncross-sav.org Fathers Carlos Rivero (left) and Robert Phillips lay prostrate before the altar at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist Church, Savannah during their Ordination to the Priesthood Saturday, June 20. Photograph by Donnell Suggs. Life journeys’ not unlike the Blessed Virgin Mary’s leads to Ordinations BY DONNELL SUGGS dsuggs@diosav.org SAVANNAH, Ga.- Deacon Carlos Andres Rivero Murcia could not find his way into the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist Church, Savannah, early Saturday morning. He had plenty of time before he and fellow deacon Robert Anthony Phillips were to be ordained priests later that morning but with his hands full—he carried with him a crisp white surplice, black shoes and other items—and mind on the extraordinary achievement ahead, he was in a hurry to get inside. “I think we have to go in through the rectory,” he said with a smile. Rivero and Phillips, after years of study and a year as transitional deacons, were ordained priests Saturday, June 20, the day of Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in front of family, friends, and amongst their fellow brothers in faith. More than two dozen priests were also in attendance. Presiding over the ceremony was Diocese of Atlanta Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer OFM Conv. who during his Homily said to Rivero and Phillips, “It is the Holy Spirit that has led you here. This occasion, this moment, is especially dear to me because we were together from the beginning. “My dear brothers, you have chosen the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary on which to be ordained. Carlos and Robert, Mary’s life journey is not unlike your own. You also have chosen to do the will of God. My sons you too will exercise the sacred duty of teaching in the name of Christ the teacher. See that you believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.” “It is in the Eucharist that you will find the strength to sacrifice yourself.” Loud applause filled the Basilica following the Election of the Candidates, the moment when the candidates were called forward. During the Promise of the Elect when both Rivero and Phillips declared their resolve to serve the people of God as priests, both were loud and clear in their intentions. The pair were vested in stole and chasuble by fellow priests and were anointed by Archbishop See ORDINATIONS page 4