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WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | June 5-18, 2015 | Volume 76, Number 15 ORLANDO DIOCESE PALM BEACH DIOCESE VENICE DIOCESE Renee Pardee, front row center, of St. William Parish in Naples, was one of 41 who received the Sacrament Graduates of Pope John Paul II High School process of Confirmation from Bishop Frank J. Dewane during in caps and gowns moments before commencement the Pentecost Mass May 24 at Epiphany Cathedral in Father Joshua Swallows stands before the altar during ceremonies. (LINDA REEVES | FC) Venice. (BOB REDDY | FC) the ordination. (FRANK WEBER | FC) Men ‘chosen’ Schools Celebrating by Lord celebrate class Pentecost Renee Pardee of St. William Parish in Naples of 2015 said the experience of receiving the Sacrament of for ‘noble’ task Confirmation at the Cathedral was powerful. The three high schools of the Diocese of Palm “Being confirmed was a rush of emotions,” she More than 1,000 Catholics filled the cathedral Beach graduated a combined 324 students during said. “I was nervous when I first arrived … but to celebrate as Bishop John Noonan conferred commencement ceremonies last month, and all once I heard the Bishop begin speaking, I was put the Sacrament of Holy Orders on the two men events were something to remember with happy at ease. ‘It makes you more,’ he told us. I want to be during their ordination to the priesthood May graduates about to venture off on new life paths, more, I will be more.” 23. The Mass was concelebrated by more than witnessed by school staff, friends and family The solemnity of Pentecost represents “the bap- 100 priests from throughout the diocese. members. tism of the Church, which thus begins her path “Today we welcome two young men into the “It is a new start,” said Daniel Ericsson,” mo- through history, guided by the strength of the priesthood,” Bishop Noonan said in his opening ments before the Pope John Paul II High School Holy Spirit.” These were the words of Pope Fran- remarks. “We come with joy in our hearts as we graduation May 16 at Lynn University in Boca Ra- cis as he addressed the faithful on Pentecost at St. pray for them and pray for their families.” ton. “It is more freedom.” Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in Rome. Click on the ORLANDO DIOCESE above for Click on the PALM BEACH DIOCESE for more Click on the VENICE DIOCESE above for more more on this story. on this story. on this story. President Nebraska Barack bishops Obama welcome makes override of surprise governor’s visit to veto of bill Annual listing of Catholic high school Miami ending death graduates of Palm Beach, Venice and shrine penalty Orlando dioceses WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | June 5-18, 2015 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE PRIESTLY ORDINATION Bishop John Noonan lays his hands on Father Christopher Dorsey, ordaining him to the Bishop John Noonan anoints the hands of Father Joshua Swallows, which signifies that the hands of the newly ordained priest priesthood. (PHOTOS BY FRANK WEBER | FC) are being prepared for the sacred duties and vessels which will be part of the priestly ministry. Men ‘chosen’ by Lord for ‘noble’ task LINDA CALDWELL part of the litany of supplication. In the At left, Father Joshua Swallows of the Florida Catholic staff most solemn gesture of the rite, Bishop stands before Noonan silently placed his hands on the the altar during ORLANDO | An undeniable feeling head of each candidate (now elected) with the ordination. of joy and faithfulness filled the air at St. the other priests following suit, signifying Below left, Bishop James Cathedral as Fathers Joshua Swal- their solidarity in priestly ministry. Then John Noonan lows and Christopher Dorsey committed through the Prayer of Ordination the two speaks to Father their lives to serve Christ and his Church were made priests. Christopher as priests for the Diocese of Orlando. The ceremony culminated with the Dorsey after More than 1,000 Catholics filled the newly ordained priests vesting and Bish- blessing the palms cathedral to celebrate as Bishop John op Noonan anointing the palms of their of the newly Noonan conferred the Sacrament of Holy hands with the holy chrism and present- ordained priest. Orders on the two men during their or- ing them with the bread and wine. Below right, dination to the priesthood May 23. The Bishop Noonan offered words of en- Father Swallows Mass was concelebrated by more than 100 couragement to the men, saying that blesses Bishop priests from throughout the diocese. they are ready to serve. “You have been John Noonan as “Today we welcome two young men nurtured in the good soil of your family one of his first into the priesthood,” Bishop Noonan said and faith communities,” he said. “In your actions as a priest. in his opening remarks. “We come with seminarian formation, you have allowed joy in our hearts as we pray for them and yourself to be transformed by the word pray for their families.” of God that now leads you to a greater The ancient rite of ordination is a sol- awareness of who Jesus Christ is and his emn and prayerful ceremony that opens calling for you to the priesthood. with candidates being presented to the “Over these past years in the seminary, bishop. Father Jorge Torres, director of your vocation has been molded and fash- the Office of Vocations, presented the two ioned in the rich soil of holiness, uniting men. After inquiring if they were worthy yourself to Jesus Christ in daily prayer, to be ordained, Bishop Noonan accepted sacred Scripture and celebrating the the request, with the congregation show- Sacraments,” he continued. “Now as you ing its consent by responding, “Thanks be are about to be ordained priests of Jesus to God,” accompanied by applause. Christ, you must bring that spirit and The rite continued with the men prom- knowledge in service to God’s people.” ising respect and obedience to Bishop Alluding to the day’s Gospel, Luke 10:1- Noonan and his successors. They then prostrated themselves before the altar as PLEASE SEE ORDINATION, A2 June 5-18, 2015 Florida Catholic YOUR ORLANDO COMMUNITY A2 Parents recall moments that led to ordination LINDA CALDWELL of the Florida Catholic staff ORLANDO | Looking back, Mary Dorsey, mother of newly or- dained Father Christopher Dorsey, could see God’s hand in guiding her son to the priesthood. One of her most poignant memories occurred when Christopher was about 4. “We went to Mass outside at Yo- semite on Pentecost Sunday. It was a beautiful morning,” she said. “The priest told us to close our eyes while he did the invocation of the Holy Spirit. We all had our eyes closed except for Christopher. He tugged on me and said, ‘Mommy, mommy, Father Joshua Swallows’ family applauds following his ordination look over in the trees. There are to the priesthood. (PHOTOS BY LINDA CALDWELL | FC) little fires over in the trees.’ I looked and I couldn’t see anything. I re- Todd Swallows, father of Father church there anymore,’” Todd member thinking, ‘Wow.’” Swallows, said he vividly remem- Swallows said. “He did a lot of “And his first Mass (celebrated as bers the day his son expressed his searching in his late teens and a priest) will be Pentecost Sunday,” decision to become a priest. read about a lot of different reli- his father, Lee Dorsey, chimed in. “I was out on a job site and he gions. When he was in college, Mary Dorsey said that while she called me on the phone and said, he went on a retreat. It was then did not realize it at the time, the ‘Dad, the calling has never left that he got the calling to become signs of God’s calling in her son’s me,’” the elder Swallows recalled. a priest.” life had always been there. “I said, ‘What are you waiting for?’ “All we ever wanted for Josh was “There were all these little indi- He signed up for seminary the very for him to be happy,” added his cators that his faith was very much a next day.” mother, Tina Wozneski. “Josh is a part of him,” she said. “We are over- Todd Swallows admits there was fisherman. I just gave him his gift, joyed and very excited for Chris. We a time when he wondered if his son which was a chasuble with the fish- are so proud of him. He has chosen would even remain in the faith. es and loaves on it. On the outside to dedicate his life to the Lord and “When it was time to be con- of the gift, I wrote, ‘To my son, the the Church and we could not be firmed when he was 15, Josh said, fisher of men.’ He is truly a fisher of more proud.” ‘Dad, I don’t think I want to go to men.” n Father Christopher Dorsey blesses his mother, Mary. ORDINATION: Bishop Noonan ordains two men to priesthood FROM A1 9, in which Jesus appoints and sends out two disciples to every town, Bishop Noonan reminded Father Swallows and Father Dors- ey of the importance of their new role in the Church. “You were not chosen for some small, menial task by the Lord but for a noble one,” he said. “When asked what it means to be a dis- ciple, Pope Francis reminds us, Bishop John Noonan blesses the chalices that Father Christopher replacing malice with innocence, Dorsey, right, and Father Joshua Swallows, left, would use in their force with love, pride with humil- priestly ministry.

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