Ordinations Homily

Spring has more than sprung, here in June, bringing forth new life and growth all around

us.  In fact, the season of spring will soon officially give way to summer.  A bit of spring is

taking place as well in the Diocesan presbyterate of Evansville, in terms of the ordination of

Deacons Tyler and Ambrose to the priesthood.  They will have the summer to transition from

seminary life to the way of life in the being and doing of ordained priesthood.  They join a

wonderful band of brothers as they take their place in our presbyterate.  In turn, they enrich us by

their own particular gifts and talents.  

    The diaconate ordination of Homero, who comes to us from Mexico, is also a great

source of joy and promise for our local Church, particularly on behalf of our Latino community.  

While our brother, Homero, is a gift to the entire Diocese, he brings particular hope and joy to our Latino brothers and sisters.  As a Latino deacon, and eventual priest, he knows intimately the language and culture of those who have come to us from various Latino countries.  Let us pray that he will inspire other young Latinos, especially among those living within our Diocese.  For such vocations, let us seek the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

    As with all things, we first give thanks to God for these three young men before us.  We

must express our deepest appreciation for their families, particularly their parents, as well as all

those who had a hand in their formation and education.  We especially note our gratitude to

Bishop Simon Brute Seminary, Assumption Seminary, in San Antonio, St. Meinrad School of

Theology, our own Diocesan Vocation Office and the parishes in which they were raised or

served.  Thanks to our priests, deacons, religious, parish and diocesan staff members, and

parishioners who have played a special role in cultivating the vocation of these three men.

    The vocation to ordained ministry is rooted in the baptismal call to holiness and service.  

Each and every baptized member of the Church is anointed to share in the three-fold office of

Jesus Christ according to each person’s capacity.  Just as Jesus was anointed as priest, prophet

and king, so we are called to live a life of holiness, proclaim the Good News, and be good

stewards of our time, talent and treasure.   Through ordained ministry, Deacon Tyler, Deacon

Ambrose and Homero embrace a particular way of participating in this three-fold office of Jesus

Christ, our Great High Priest.  This embrace is more than a function.  It is a way of being.  

    The ordained minister, deacon or priest, must be a man of courage, a bridge for

communion, an instrument of mercy, a humble servant, an example of generosity, a minister of

the Gospel, a healer of wounds, and a witness to discipleship in Jesus Christ.  To be truly

effective, the lifestyle of an ordained minister must be predicated on humility, simplicity,

compassion, truth in charity, regard for the sacredness of all humanity, and spiritual rootedness

in Word and Sacrament.  The ordained minister must never forget that he is called to serve others

through the ministry of Word, Sacrament and Service rather than being served.  He must be

willing to set aside his personal agenda, prejudices and ego, if he is to effectively and faithfully

represent the Church in carrying out her mission as entrusted by Jesus Christ, the Head of the

Church.  The ordain minister, both deacon and priest, must remember that authentic fidelity to

the Head cannot exist in isolation from the Body.  Herein lies the sacred character of Holy

Orders as bearing fruitfulness of the three-fold promises of prayer, obedience and celibacy.

    The scripture passages chosen for this ordination liturgy speak wonderfully of the role

and purpose of ordained ministry in carrying out the mission of the Church as entrusted by Jesus

Christ.  As noted in the Letter to the Hebrews, those called forth by God are to serve rather than

to seek personal honor.  These men to be ordained are to offer themselves, despite being beset by

human weakness, as representatives before God.  Just as with Jesus, we learn obedience from

what we suffer far more than from what we might accomplish.  As the Prophet Isaiah declares,

those who minister to God’s people are anointed by the Spirit of the Lord to proclaim, heal,

announce and comfort.  Through the disciplines of prayer, celibacy and obedience, ordained

ministers are to exude the paschal joy and peace of the Risen Lord in the midst of those we serve.

    Each of our brothers brings his own particular personality to the office of diaconal and

priestly ministry.  Each brings along his particular hopes and fears, strengths and wounds, ideas

and apprehensions, cultural experience and references.  Nothing is left out of the mix.  Being

aware of one’s own humanness, the ordained minister is better able to empathize with others.  

This empathy must be especially realized with the poor and vulnerable, those cast aside,

neglected or pushed to the very margins of society.   The ordained minister must point to what

Pope Francis refers to in his Encyclical, Laudato Si’, “On Care for our Common Home,” as the

interrelatedness of one’s relationship with God, others, self and all of creation.  The ordained

minister must proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and practice what he proclaims.  Above all, to

be truly effective and credible, the ordained minister must be Christ-centered rather than ego-

centered.   Otherwise, promoting one’s own agenda does great damage to the Church and

ultimate harm to those we are called to serve.  

    In his homily on the 53rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations (cf. Fourth Sunday of

Easter, 17 April 2016), Pope Francis pleaded with those being ordained to be merciful and

compassionate in the name of Jesus Christ and the Church.  He added; “Bring Christ’s death in

yourself…Without the Cross, you will never find the real Jesus; and a Cross without Christ does

not make sense.”  The Holy Father concluded his homily as follows: “In filial communion with

your bishop, strive to unite the faithful in one family to lead them to God the Father, through

Christ, in the Holy Spirit.  Have always in mind the example of the Good Shepherd…to seek and

save that which was lost.”  To those being ordained for the Diocese of Evansville, go and do

likewise.