By Katie Vasquez
After years of formation, seven men entered the Co-Cathedral of St Joseph as deacons and prepared to leave as priests in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan led the men in the Sacrament of Holy Orders on Saturday, June 28.
Where prostrating before the altar they offered their lives in service to the people of God.
“I’m giving it all to God and just laying down my life just as Christ laid his, and I’m no longer the owner of my life at this point. It belongs now to the church, to Christ,” said Father Callistus Ibeh, a newly ordained priest.
“When I lay down on the floor, that is the death of Paulo Salazar. And when I rise up, it’s Father Paulo. And to go out and to bless His people and to give them the nourishment of the food for their souls,” said Father Paulo Salazar, a newly ordained priest.
They come from different countries and speak a multitude of languages, but the Brooklyn shepherd says their one similarity is their devotion to Christ.
“These are very talented men, but they’re also generous, they bring a vast variety of experiences and gifts, and they’re going to be putting those gifts to work,” said Bishop Brennan.
Then the seven reached the moment they were all waiting for: Bishop Brennan placed his hands on their head followed by the priests of the diocese, officially marking them as ordained priests.
“Now I’m moving on to this next life. Not completely sure where our Lord is going to take me, but I’m very confident in Him because of all the blessings of graces He’s brought to me into my life, through so many people and through certain prayers and intercession,” said Father Robert Ruggiero.
REALTED: Prayers, Tears, Applause as Seven New Priests Are Ordained in Diocese of Brooklyn
“To have a moment to pray and to really surrender, to hold on to God and to give myself completely to Him,” was important, Father Alvaro Moralez Sanchez told Currents News.
Their hands, which were anointed during the Mass, will lead countless other faithful throughout Brooklyn and Queens through the sacraments.
“I’m just very happy, genuinely very, very happy,” said Father Benoit Chavanne, “for the very reason that it’s through the ministry and through the hands that we will be consecrating the Host and giving the Sacrament of Confession, too.”
After the Ordination Mass ended, each one spent time blessing loved ones.
“Blessing the people through me because I’m an instrument of God, and I want to be an instrument for the faithful, to encourage them to to praise the Lord, to give thanks to Him, and to be blessed by him,” Father Juan Herrera told Currents News following his ordination.
As they prepare for their assignments, each one is ready to begin their ministry.
“I want to be involved a lot with the youth so they can think about vocation and they might have the call. But sometimes nobody talks to them about the vocation. So I want to spend some time getting to know people,” said Father Gerardo Tlatelpa.
They are spreading the Word of God across the Diocese of Brooklyn.