Father Christopher Droste Is Ordained June 8

"Today is a great day in the life of Deacon Christopher, his family, the diocese, and, indeed, the entire Church."

With those words, Bishop Charles C. Thompson began his homily at the ordination Mass for Father Christopher Droste, held June 8 at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville.

The Mass was celebrated on a beautiful June morning. Right before it began a procession of seminarians, deacons, parish priests and Bishop Thompson gathered on the cathedral steps.

Inside, soon-to-be ordained Deacon Droste was shepherding his friends and family members to the front pews in the cathedral.

The diocesan choir, under the direction of Jeremy Korba, sang the prelude "Veni Creator Spiritus," and then the procession -- led by an honor guard from the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus -- entered the church as the choir sang "Ecce Sacerdos Magnus," (Behold a Great Priest.)

Bishop Thompson welcomed the assembly, singling out special guests, Benedictine Father Denis Robinson, president-rector of St. Meinrad School of Theology, and Father Bob Robeson, rector of the Bishop Simon Brute College Seminary in Indianapolis.

Deacon Droste chose Isaiah 61 for the First Reading, which includes these words: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me."

The second reading was from 2 Corinthians: We have this ministry through the mercy shown us, and we are not discouraged . . . For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ."

The Gospel, from John 15, recalled Jesus telling his disciples, "This is my commandment, love one another as I love you."

As he began his homily, Bishop Thompson noted that "all the baptized are called to share in the three-fold mission of Jesus Christ as priest, prophet and king. Yet, Deacon Christopher is allowing himself to take on this baptismal call to another level" -- not in terms of prestige or privilege -- "but in terms of service and responsibility. Leadership in the Church, unlike that of the secular world, is ultimately about service."

And what better example, the bishop noted, than "our great High Priest, Jesus, at the Last Supper, in washing the feet of his disciples." In a similar way, priests proclaiming the Word of God and celebrating the Sacraments are "intimately linked to a life of service and works of charity."

The priest -- despite human weakness and limitations -- must strive to be identifiable to all types of people, Bishop Thompson said, "namely the poor as well as the affluent, able to work with women and men, sensitive to the needs of both young and old, respectful of all cultures and ethnic groups, bridging the gap between those who seem to be polarized from one another, capable of dialogue with both Catholics and non-Catholics, Christians and non-Christians, dedicated to promoting and defending the dignity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death, holding firm to Church teaching while evidencing a heart of compassion, and balancing the need to be present and available while taking personal responsibility for his own well-being and health."

He paused, waiting for the light laugher to end, and then said, "Deacon Christopher, if you are still with us after all that, allow me to provide some advice."

"First and foremost, you must be a man of prayer. By dedicating yourself to prayer, you will be able to draw from the wisdom of St. John the Baptist, who knew who he was and who he was not. Despite the sacramental nature of the priest acting in persona Christi, neither you nor I is the savior of the world. This role or identity has already been claimed by Jesus Christ . . .

"The priest is not the source of grace but the dispenser of the sacraments."

The bishop encouraged the young man to root his life in daily prayer, noting that doing so will result in the grace of God "providing the humility necessary to remain Christ-centered rather than self-centered."

The bishop noted that the Scripture readings that Deacon Droste chose for the ordination Mass "speak to the nature of effective pastoral care and service.”

In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah "makes clear that it is through the anointing of the Spirit that one is able to most effectively bring glad tidings to the lowly, poor, brokenhearted, prisoners, innocent captives and those who mourn."

 In the second reading, St. Paul points out that it must be Jesus Christ -- and not ourselves -- that we preach. "This preaching must be done in season and out, by word and example, and with truth in charity."

Bishop Thompson said that the Gospel of John "reminds us that all emphasis of ministry and service must be rooted in the intimate bond of love we share with God and one another in and through Jesus Christ.”

"As reflected in the commandments, the love underlying priestly ministry and service is of a special kind; namely, sacrificial. In imitation of Christ, the priest dares to lay down his life for others. Such priestly, Christ-like love is impossible apart from a life of prayer."

When a priest is a man of prayer, he is able to be a man of "peace, of courage, of mercy, of conviction, of understanding and of reconciliation." He becomes "God’s holy instrument."

The sacred promises to ordained ministry -- celibacy, obedience and prayer -- are not ends in themselves, said the bishop. "Rather, they are means to the end. These promises provide us with the necessary freedom and undeterred focus to take advantage of every opportunity for the salvation of souls."

Our new pope, Francis, recently commented on two key elements that must be held together in balance for the proper understanding of priesthood, Bishop Thompson said. These elements are greatness and nothingness.

"Essential to the notion of nothingness is the need for 'purity of heart' leading to total service without loss of one’s personal gifts and well-being. Essential to the notion of greatness is the Cross, from which the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, derive meaning and power. Just as Jesus demanded much of his apostles, our Holy Father reminds us, so he calls us to holiness of life."

 The bishop concluded his homily with these words: "Deacon Christopher, we believe that you have what it takes to be 'Father Christopher,' an ordained priest of the Catholic Church. You make us proud! You will do well and be wonderful, especially if you remember to keep before you these following eight-fold “be-attitudes.”

He noted to more laughter that "these aren't from Jesus on the Mount. These are mine."

• Be one with your presbyterate, not a lone ranger;

• Be trusting of God’s grace to fill up what is lacking in you;

• Be merciful toward yourself as to those you serve;

• Be sure to root your life, identity and ministry in prayer;

• Be always aware of the fact that the Church ultimately belongs to Jesus Christ, not you;

• Be mindful, as the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta was known to remark, that you need not do great things but small things with great love;

• Be yourself;

• Be assured of how much we love and care for you.

After the homily, the deacon was asked by the bishop to "declare before the people your intention to undertake this office." When the deacon did so, the bishop said, "May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment."

As Deacon Droste lay prostrate in front of the altar, the diocesan choir led the Litany of  Supplication, praying to the angels and saints that “God the all-powerful Father will pour out abundantly the gifts of heaven on this, his servant, whom he has chosen for the office of priest.”

At this point in the ordination Mass, the deacon stood and then knelt in front of the bishop who put his hands on the head of the elect. After the bishop laid his hands on him, all the priests lay their hands on him.

He was presented with a stole and a chasuble, and then the bishop anointed his hands with holy chrism.

His parents, Jack and Rita Droste, brought a paten holding bread and a chalice containing wine mixed with water to the altar. They presented them to the bishop, who then placed them in Father Droste's hands, saying, "Receive the oblation of the holy people, to be offered to God. Understand what you do, imitate what you celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord's Cross."

Bishop Thompson then said, "I get to be the first one to welcome him as a priest of God."

The Mass concluded with a blessing for the new priest, and the rousing recessional "To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King."

Father Droste's first assignment is as associate pastor at Christ the King and Holy Spirit parishes, both in Evansville.