May 27, 2005

L.A. Ordinations

Cardinal Mahony, for 20 years archbishop of the largest Archdiocese in the richest nation in the world, will be ordaining ONLY FIVE NEW PRIESTS in his Our Lady of the "Angles" Cathedral. Meanwhile, in the Archdiocese of Chicago under the leadership of Cardinal Francis George, 16 new priests were ordained for that see.

Regarding the new L.A. priests:

Only one is a native Angelino.
Three are from Viet Nam.
And the fifth ordinand was born in London.

Not one is Hispanic which does not bode well for L.A. since its Spanish speaking population is bursting at the seams. Spanish Masses across the Archdiocese are generally packed. Go HERE to see what the L.A. Archdiocese is doing to promote vocations among the enormous Hispanic population.

Two of the ordinands are senior citizens (60 and 61 years old). God willing, they will be able to give the Church 10 to 15 years of productive priestly work.

One is middle aged (46). He's the only one from Los Angeles and, judging from his brief interview in the most recent Tidings, he seems to be the best of the group.

The youngest of the bunch are 28 and 32 years of age. They are both from Viet Nam.

The following (semi-loaded) question was put to the ordinands by Tidings editor, Mike Nelson:

Having begun your formation under one pope, and now about to become part of the first group of priests ordained under the new pope, what effect do you think that might have on your priesthood?

The future Father Robert Edward Joseph Garon (46) answered well. He said:

"I don't see how that would make a big difference. There are similar qualities in Pope Benedict XVI as there were in Pope John Paul II. Benedict might challenge priests to take a closer look at themselves in relation to their ministry, to better discern how they are called to serve."

A troubling response came from the 60 year old grandpa, future Father Joseph C. Wah, Jr.

"I admit I was surprised and a bit skeptical at first. But after a day or two, I thought, 'We have to give him a chance.'

This guy sounds like a Reverend Richard McBrien fan whose polemical pieces have regularly appeared in the Tidings for years.

(Photo: Victor Aleman/THE TIDINGS)

8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've been reading you blog a few times a week and really enjoy. You are not alone in the way you feel about our dear Cardinal. He just doesn't get it. Sometimes, I wonder if he's even Catholic.

After viewing some beautiful pictures of the Corpus Christi procession in Rome on the blog of "adok the Roman," I decided to see if our cathedral would be having a procession on Sunday. The poor old lady who answered the phone said they have at procession at "every Mass." I tried to press on about it being Corpus Christi, but the poor thing didn't know what I was talking about. Do you happen to know if there will be a procession on Sunday. Just curious. I attend the indult.

1:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Anonymous:

Yes, it is not amazing that in the Year of the Eucharist there is really nothing that is being offered in the Archdiocese of L.A. to celebrate this momentous chapter in the history of the Church. The only thing the Cathedral is doing is Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on the Fridays of this year, from 8am to 2pm. However, I have not visited the Cathedral to see how this is done.

Thanks for visiting my blog. It's nice to know that someone is out there.

I have heard that St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens (where I sometimes go to Mass) is having a Eucharistic retreat this weekend.

1:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Quintero,

I noticed that they had exposition too. In fact, I was rather surprised that they even had a monstrance. I really wonder how it works in that little Eucharistic chapel that to me resembles a closet. I work relatively near the cathedral and could probably sneak over at lunchtime, but I only get an hour for lunch.

You're lucky you have a nice parish. I gave up on parish life years ago.

1:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous:

I can't really call St. Peter Chanel my parish since I don't live all that close by and I don't get over there all that often. It is sad that there are not all that many parishes that are completely faithful to what the Church teaches, although I am sure there are many priests who mean well, but just don't know much.

Don't give up. That's what the devil wants. Where Peter is, there is the Church. Hey, Ratzinger is pope! What more could you want for a shot in the arm?

2:56 PM  
Blogger Cathy said...

Actually, Cardinal George ordained 17 priests this year! My parish, St John Cantius (www.cantius.org please check it out!)
was blessed to have now-Fr. Brendan Gibson answer the call. However, Fr. G is a member of the Society of St John Cantius, therefore a societal and not a diocesan priest, so he wasn't included in this news story. His ordination was Thursday, and it was spectacular.
(Last year, the Society ordained TWO men, both of whom are splendid, gifted priests.) We have more in seminary. And this is ONE PARISH in Chi-town!

5:01 AM  
Blogger Quintero said...

Thanks for the good news, Catherine. I know about St. John Cantius and the work of Father Frank Philips.

6:01 PM  
Blogger Daniel Muller said...

Not one is Hispanic which does not bode well for L.A. since its Spanish speaking population is bursting at the seams. Spanish Masses across the Archdiocese are generally packed. Go HERE to see what the L.A. Archdiocese is doing to promote vocations among the enormous Hispanic population.

¡Híjole! Claro que esto está muy mal, y más que los jóvenes que se deben de reclutar recurren a la Internet a diario para cualquier información. Pero acuérdese que uno no tiene que ser latino para que hable (o escriba) español. Más que gente de cualquier grupo étnico, nos hacen falta sacerdotes santos, pastores y padres verdaderos según el Sagrado Corazón de Jesucristo.

2:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Estimado Sr. Muller:

Lo que dice usted es correcto y estoy de acuerdo. Sean Hispanos o no, lo que la Iglesia necesita son sacerdotes santos, sacerdotes fieles, sacerdotes preparados, sacerdotes enamorados con Jesús Sacramentado, sacerdotes que ofrecen la Santa Misa con reverencia y atención a los detalles de la rúbricas, sacerdotes que están disponibles a confesar. Esto es lo se necesita más que nada.

6:58 PM  

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