The Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus celebrated the ordination to the priesthood of Deacons Joseph Patrick Echevarria SJ and Cosme Carlo Lacang SJ on 3 June in the Oratory of St Ignatius of Loyola at the Loyola House of Studies, Ateneo de Manila University.
Archbishop of Manila and ordaining prelate, Most Rev Jose Cardinal Advincula Jr, was joined in the celebration by Fr Primitivo Viray Jr SJ, provincial superior of the Philippine Jesuits, Fr Xavier Olin SJ, rector of the Loyola House of Studies, and some 75 Jesuit priest-concelebrants.
In his homily, Cardinal Advincula drew inspiration from three proximate liturgical celebrations to exhort the Jesuit ordinandi on their new life, ministry, and mission: Pentecost Sunday, observed a week prior to their ordination, Trinity Sunday, which immediately followed their ordination day, and the feast of the Ugandan martyrs that coincided with the day of their ordination.
“Like the servant of God in our first reading today, every priest can rightfully declare: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me,’” the cardinal said, referring to the first celebration. “Every priest, therefore, is a creature of the Holy Spirit,” he said, exhorting the ordinandi to “Always live by the Holy Spirit. You can never be good priests without the Holy Spirit.”
Continuing with the second liturgical celebration, Cardinal Advincula highlighted the importance of the Holy Trinity. He said, “When we talk of the Holy Trinity, we are constantly reminded of communion and mission. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are united in a communion of love. But their love does not remain within themselves. It overflows to the world and humanity.”
Thus, he reminded the ordinandi to be priests of communion and of mission. By communion, he meant: “Wherever you are, wherever you are sent, bring unity. Do not cause division.” And by mission: “Be eager to go where God wants you to go, and there bring God’s joy, mercy, love, and peace. Be excited to go where God wants you to go, and there proclaim God’s truth, justice, and compassion.”
Reflecting on the third celebration, the cardinal remarked, “This is an excellent reminder to you… that priesthood is martyrdom. Let your body be given up for God’s flock. Let your blood be shed for God’s people. Never hold back. Give your all. Offer your all. For that is what Jesus our Good Shepherd did.”
Newly ordained Fr Echevarria echoed the same spirit in his thanksgiving remarks near the end of the ordination liturgy.
He said, “As much as we have the desire to give our whole selves to [the] mission, to be good shepherds who, as the Cardinal mentioned, do so with much joy and enthusiasm, so that our mission gathers and brings people together, it is really because we have been shepherded first by so many of you here today.”
To be shepherded, for Fr Echevarria, is to encounter a God who does not just pass by and goes on His way. Rather, God “stays and accompanies us, and on occasion, picks us up and tends our wounds, listens late into the night, gives difficult feedback, and encourages us not to give up because He is the one who has called us.”
Finally, given that ordination day also fell on the first Saturday of the month, Cardinal Advincula assured the new priests of the maternal intercession and care of the Blessed Virgin Mary for them. Addressing Fr Echevarria and Fr Lacang, he said, “May she, who conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, who faithfully followed Jesus, and who offered her whole life to God, lead you always to Jesus and teach you to give Jesus to the world.” [Rogelio R Nato Jr SJ/Philippine Province]