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Page 2 June 12, 2011 The Southwest Register

‘Sweet sounds to my ears’ Donald Eugene Bedore ordained to the priesthood By DAVID MYERS priesthood 13 years ago,” Bishop Southwest Kansas Register Brungardt said in his homily, following urrounded by family and friends, the “calling and presentation.” “My SDonald Eugene Bedore, a former nephew Michael, about five years old, meat cutter from Jetmore, stood proudly was in the front row with his family yet humble before the Most Rev. John in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Balthasar Brungardt at the Cathedral of Conception in Wichita. As Bishop Our Lady of Guadalupe May 28, as he Eugene Gerber was laying hands on took his final journey toward the priest- me in silence, Michael whispered to his hood. dad: ‘Is that when Uncle John is gettin’ It was the first priestly ordination for the magic?’ A beautiful and insightful the young bishop, and the first priestly ‘child’s theology!’ … He knew some- ordination in the Diocese of Dodge City thing extraordinary was happening, since Fathers Wesley Schawe and Trong something that he could only articulate Tran were ordained together May 22, as ‘magic.’ No, it is not magic, but a “I remember my ordination to the priesthood 13 years ago. My 2004. reality of our Catholic Faith. nephew Michael, about five years old, was in the front row with his “Father Donald Eugene Bedore,” Don, you will soon become a ministerial family in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. As Bishop Brungardt said, smiling. “Father priest forever. Bishop Eugene Gerber was laying hands on me in silence, Michael Bedore … Father Don … Father. Those “…We gather together in the Cathe- are sweet sounds to my ears. dral Church, with your new bishop, whispered to his dad: ‘Is that when Uncle John is gettin’ the magic?’ A “Vatican II taught the incredible and the faithful, to celebrate this gift beautiful and insightful ‘child’s theology!’” -- Bishop John Brungardt meaning of those words: ‘Priests are Jesus is giving to you, to our diocesan made in the likeness of Christ the Priest Church, and to the Universal Church. Clockwise from by the Sacrament of Orders, so that they The teaches that the top: Deacon Donald may, in collaboration with their bish- ordination ‘celebration calls for as Bedore is presented ops, work for the building up and care many of the faithful as possible to take to the bishop by of the Church which is the whole Body part’ (CCC, #1572). We are all praying Father Benjamin of Christ, acting as ministers of him for you, that you, with God’s grace, be a Dande, MSFS and who is the Head,’” he said, quoting the holy priest.” Msgr. Brian Moore; Catechism of the Catholic Church. As the bishop so often does, he called Deacon Bedore “Deacon Don, soon to be Father Don, forward the children in the cathedral, prays at the Shrine you are about to receive this extraordi- who shyly walked to the center of the of Our Lady of nary sacrament, a sacrament that will worship space and sat around the front Guadalupe prior change your very being, a consecration of the altar. to his ordination; that will alter your essence; you will be With the children seated before the Deacon Bedore lies changed ontologically. For the Sacra- congregation, the bishop explained, prostrate before the ment of ‘confers a gift of with their help, the “five sacraments bishop during the the Holy Spirit that permits the exercise [then-Deacon Bedore] will be celebrat- Litany of the Saints. of a sacred power which can come ing most often.” More photos are on only from Christ himself through his In the sacrament of marriage, the Pages 23 and 24. Church….’” bishop said, “there is a trinity …: hus- Early in the ordination, then-Dea- band, wife, and God. Encourage the These and more con Bedore was called forward for couple to look at their Loving Lord, and than 400 additional the calling and the presentation of the how He will give them the grace to have color photos can be candidate, with Father Benjamin Dande, a happy, holy, life-long marriage.” viewed and down- MSFS, and Msgr. Brian Moore at his With several children following loaded at dcdiocese. sides. When Msgr. Moore announced behind, the bishop then moved to the org. The site also to Bishop Brungardt that there was Baptismal Font, where a young girl held contains the bish- unanimous consent to accept Deacon a baby doll while a young boy, dressed in op’s homily in its Bedore as a priest, the cathedral erupted a stole, “baptized” as the bishop narrated. entirety. in applause. “I remember my first , the day “I remember my ordination to the Continued on Page 24 David Myers/ SKR Photos The Southwest Kansas Register June 12, 2011 Page 23

David Myers/SKR Photos Above: During the bishop’s homily, children helped him explain the role of a priest during the celebration of the Eucha- rist, as well as the Sacra- ment of Baptism (above, right). At far left, Father Henry Hildebrandt places the stole and cha- suble onto Father Bedore. Below, left, priests of the diocese stand behind the altar as Father Bedore assists with the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Below, servers kneel before Bishop Brungardt during the ordination.

These and 400 more photos can be viewed and down- loaded at dcdiocese.org. Page 24 June 12, 2011 The Southwest Kansas Register The ordination of Father Donald Eugene Bedore ‘Be a Father who is holy, trusting in the grace of Jesus to assist’

Continued from Page 2 your hands in an unbloody way on the after I was ordained a deacon 14 years altar, in union with the faithful’ (Ordina- ago,” he said. “My nephew Paul was a tion Rite, #151). Let this incredible gift newborn, and his family and my extend- sustain and strengthen you in your new ed family gathered at St. Paul Catholic ministry. Bring this Bread of Life to the Church in Wichita for the baptism. As faithful to nourish them on their journey.” my first sacrament as an ordained man, After the children once again took their I was overwhelmed by God’s grace and seats, the bishop stood before then-Dea- beauty and gift. During the baptism con Bedore: itself, my little niece Catherine, a cousin “Father Donald Eugene Bedore … Fa- to Paul, exclaimed ‘Uncle John is pour- ther Bedore … Father Don … Father. ing water on that baby’s head!’ More “Those are sweet sounds to my ears. children’s theology. Catherine knew All the faithful and I of the Catholic Dio- that something special was happening. cese of Dodge City, and Catholics around Paul was becoming an adopted son of the world, will call you “Father” from our Heavenly Father, his original sin was now on. Be a Father who is holy, trust- remitted, and he was made a Catholic for- ing in the grace of Jesus to assist. Your ever. Keep teaching your catechumens Loving Heavenly Father will sustain you. and parents about the extraordinary gift The Holy Spirit will guide you. Our of baptism.” Trinitarian God loves you more than you In one of the more amusing moments can ask or imagine.” during the Mass, the bishop seated a boy Following the bishop’s homily, Deacon in his cathedra. As another boy knelt Bedore proclaimed his promise to serve before him as if amid the sacrament of the Church and God’s people. With the Confession, the bishop had the boy in his bishop’s hands wrapped around his own, cathedra offer the other boy a sign of the the deacon promised to be respectful and cross – a sign of God’s forgiveness. obedient to the bishop and his successors. “I remember my first confession as a During one of the most moving parts of newly ordained priest,” the bishop said. the celebration, the soon-to-be-ordained “The penitent walked into the confession- lay prostrate on the floor while the Litany al, and I panicked. I said to myself, ‘I of the Saints is sung. The prayer asks for can’t do this …. I can’t do this ….’ Then the intercession of the saints, that God a wave a grace washed over me, the Lord may look favorably on the future priest. touched me with His peace, His consola- Rising, Deacon Bedore then ap- tion, His love, and I said to myself, ‘I proached the bishop, seated in his cathe- can’t do this without You … I can’t do dra, and knelt before him. The bishop this without You ….’ And I celebrated silently placed his hands upon Deacon my first confession.” Bedore’s head, after which each priest “…You will find that the sacrament of present, one by one, also laid their hands confession, that has blessed you for many upon his head. years as a penitent, will be a moving gift The Laying on of Hands by Bishop from God as you also become a confes- Brungardt was the first of two essential sor. Be a gentle, compassionate confes- acts in the sacrament of holy orders, the sor, always trusting in the mercy, grace second being the recitation of the Prayer and love of God as you pray ‘I absolve of Ordination by the bishop. you from your sins, in the name of the Then, with the assistance of parish- Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy ioners from Liberal and Great Bend, a Spirit. Amen.”’ stole and chasuble were placed on Father Then, as a “sick” child lay before the Bedore by Father Henry Hildebrandt, altar, another child offered the sacrament pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Ness in times of illness and death. City. Father Bedore then had his palms “We bring the mercy and hope of our anointed by Bishop Brungardt with holy Risen Jesus to a time of suffering and chrism. pain,” the bishop said. “‘Through this With Bishop Brungardt, Bishop Emeri- holy anointing may the Lord in his love tus Ronald M. Gilmore, and the priests and mercy help you with the grace of the of the Diocese of Diocese of Dodge City Holy Spirit. Amen. May the Lord who standing behind him, Father Bedore, the frees you from sin save you and raise newest priest of the Diocese of Dodge you up. Amen.’ Trust in those words; City, then took part in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. faithfully reach out to those who are ill or At top: During the dinner After the ordination, a dinner reception dying and their families. reception that followed the was held in the Holy Family Social Hall, Bishop Brungardt then invited the chil- ordination, Father Donald where Father Bedore offered blessings dren to stand around the altar, where the Bedore offered personal to a long line of those waiting eagerly to boy dressed in the bishop’s stole raised blessings to a long line of greet the diocese’s newest priest. his arms as if a priest. well-wishers. Above, Father “I would like to say that … I’m so glad “The source and summit of our lives: Bedore blesses Regina and you’re all here to share this with me,” the Holy Eucharist. Deacon Don, you Greg Lix of Wright. At Father Bedore told those gathered before will soon celebrate, as a ministerial right is the cover to the pro- he offered a blessing of the meal. He priest, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, gram for the Ordination. where ‘under the consecrated species thanked all those involved for making of bread and wine Christ himself, living David Myers/SKR Photos “this a day I will remember always.” and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and Editor’s Note: The bishop’s homily can his Blood, with his soul and his divin- be found in its entirety at dcdiocese.org/ ity.’ You will be ‘united to the sacrifice register. More than 400 color photos are of Christ, which will be offered through available for download at dcdiocese.org.