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Thursday, June 25, 2020
COMENTARIO En EsPANOL
Southern Cross, Page 13
Reflecting on the
Priesthood
This year I celebrated my priesthood anniversary in quite a
unique manner: by participating in the ordination of the two new
est priests of our diocese, Father Robert Phillips and Father Carlos
Rivero. After Bishop Hartmayer was appointed Archbishop of
Atlanta in March, the first thing I inquired when I met his new
assistant was if the archbishop could return to Savannah to ordain
our deacons and priests. I was delighted to learn he would be able
to return.
As Vocation Director, it is particularly exciting and rewarding
to present the candidates to the ordaining Bishop. At every ordi
nation, for the past six years I have addressed Bishop Hartmayer
with these words after the candidates for
ordination stand, “Most Reverend Father,
holy mother Church asks you to ordain
these, our brothers, to the responsibility of
the Priesthood,” to which he responds, “Do
you know them to be worthy?” I then reply,
“After inquiry among the Christian people
and upon the recommendation of those
responsible, I testify that they have been
found worthy.” The Bishop then states
to reaffirm the call of Christ in the lives
of the candidates, “Relying on the help of
the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ,
we choose these men, our brothers, for
the Order of the Priesthood.” The faithful
gathered respond to this dialogue with
roaring applause.
After years of anticipation and prepa
ration in the seminary, the sacred rites
of the Church seem to thrust suddenly
the Priesthood on the new priest. As a
newly ordained priest, I recall thinking
how surprised I was that the Priesthood
arrived all of a sudden. I walked into the
cathedral as a seminarian and two hours
later walked out as a priest. I stated in
an interview a few weeks after my ordi
nation in 2009, “It is very awe-inspiring
and humbling. All of a sudden, you are
‘Father,’ the priest. You kind of have to
get used to it.”
During that same interview where I was
asked about my initial experiences as
a priest, I recounted, “one of the things that has impacted me is
the great trust and respect people have for the priest - that it is a
trust and respect for the Priesthood itself. Going to the hospital, or
wherever you go as the priest - people recognize and respect that.”
Attending the ordination and reading the brief interview that
evening allowed me to savor once again, that significant day of my
life when I made the greatest commitment I will ever make. I was
filled with such much pride to see both Robert and Carlos finally
vested in white chasubles; both of them beamed with joy. I remem
bered how the seminary prepared me with much knowledge, aca
demics, and the development of good spiritual habits, but that very
little in my seven-year seminary formation truly prepared me for
the challenge and privilege of being a priest. I remembered how
the Priesthood is something you are given, not something you earn.
As a man, the priest gets inserted into the eternal Priesthood of
Jesus Christ. He becomes part of something much greater than he
could ever be alone.
Father Pablo IMigone is Chancellor of the Diocese of Savannah.
Reflexion sobre
el Sacerdocio
Este ano celebre mi aniversario de sacerdocio de una manera
unica: participando en la ordenacion de los dos sacerdotes mas
nuevos de nuestra diocesis, el Padre Robert Phillips y el Padre
Carlos Rivero. Despues de que Monsenor Hartmayer fue nom-
brado Arzobispo de Atlanta en marzo, lo primero que pregunte
cuando conoci a su nueva asistente fue si Monsenor podia regresar
a Savannah para ordenar a nuestros diaconos y sacerdotes. Me
alegro saber que si podria regresar.
Como Director Vocacional de la diocesis es particularmente
emocionante y gratificante para mi presentar a los candidatos al
obispo durante el rito de ordenacion. En toda ordenacion durante
los ultimos seis anos me he dirigido a
Monsenor Hartmayer con estas palabras
despues de presentar a los candidatos:
“Reverendisimo Padre, la santa Madre
Iglesia pide que ordenes presbiteros
a estos hermanos nuestros”, a lo que
el responde: “^Sabes que son dignos?”.
Luego continue: “Segun el parecer de
quienes los presentan, despues de con-
sultar al pueblo cristiano, doy testimonio
de que han sido considerados dignos”.
Al final el obispo reafirma el llamado
de Cristo en la vida de los candidatos:
“Con el auxilio de Dios y de Jesucristo,
nuestro Salvador, elegimos a estos her
manos nuestros para el Orden de los
presbiteros”. Los fieles responden con un
aplauso rugiente.
Despues de anos de anticipation y
preparation en el seminario, los ritos
sagrados de la Iglesia parecen impulsar
repentinamente el sacerdocio sobre el
candidato. Como sacerdote recien orde-
nado recuerdo pensar en lo sorprendido
que estaba de que el sacerdocio llego tan
de repente. Entre en la catedral como
seminarista y dos horas mas tarde sail
como sacerdote. En una entrevista unas
semanas despues de mi ordenacion en
2009 comente, “Es muy impresionante
y lo hace a uno sentirse humilde. De
repente eres ‘Padre’, el sacerdote. Tienes
que acostumbrarte”.
Durante esa misma entrevista en la que me preguntaron acerca
de mis experiencias iniciales como sacerdote, relate: “Una de las
cosas que me ha impactado es la gran confianza y respeto que la
gente tiene por el sacerdote, las cuales son una confianza y respeto
por el sacerdocio mismo. En el hospital, o dondequiera que vayas
como sacerdote, la gente lo reconoce y lo respeta”.
Mi asistencia a la ordenacion y el leer la breve entrevista esa
noche me permitio saborear una vez mas ese dia significativo cuan
do hice el compromiso mas grande de mi vida. Estaba tan orgullo-
so de ver a Robert y a Carlos finalmente revestidos con casullas
blancas; ambos brillaban de alegria. Recorde como el seminario me
preparo con mucho conocimiento y el desarrollo de buenos habitos
espirituales, pero que muy poco en mi formation por siente anos
me preparo debidamente para el desafio y el privilegio de ser sacer
gana. Como hombre, el sacerdote se inserta en el sacerdocio eterno
de Jesucristo y se convierte en parte de algo mucho mas grande de
lo que podria ser por su cuenta.
Padre Pablo Migone es Canciller de la Diocesis de Savannah.