RITE OF ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD of Rev. Mr. Emmanuel Antwi Rev. Mr. Christopher Awiliba Rev. Mr. Nathanael Drew Swann as conferred by The Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes, d.d. Bishop of Savannah june 5, 2021 at 10:00 a.M. Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist Savannah, georgia THE IMPORTANCE OF ORDINATION –from the Roman Pontifical– y sacred Ordination a sacrament is conferred on priests through which, “by the anointing of the BHoly Spirit, they are signed with a special character and are so configured to Christ the Priest that they have the power to act in the person of Christ the Head.” Priests, therefore, take part in the Bishop's priesthood and mission. As virtuous co-workers with the episcopal Order, called to serve the people of God, they constitute one presbyterate in union with their Bishop, while being charged with different duties. Partakers of the office of Christ, the sole Mediator (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5), at their own grade of ministry they announce the divine word to all. In fact, they exercise their sacred office above all in the Eucharistic synaxis (Eucharistic assembly). For the repentant and the sick among the faithful they exercise, most especially, the ministry of reconciliation and comfort, and they present the needs and the prayers of the faithful to God the Father (cf. Hebrews 5:1A). Exercising the office of Christ as Shepherd and Head according to their share of authority, they gather together God's family as a fellowship all of one mind and soul, and lead them through Christ, in the Spirit, to God the Father. In the midst of the flock they adore him in spirit and in truth (d. John 4:24). Finally they labor in preaching and teaching (d. 1 Timothy 5:17), believing what they have read while meditating on the law of the Lord, teaching what they have believed, and putting into practice what they have taught. It is the duty of all the faithful of the diocese to assist the candidates for the priesthood by their prayers. • RITE OF ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD INTRODUCTORY RITES PRELUDE Voluntary boyce INTROIT Dominus secus mode I The Lord, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Peter and Andrew, and he called out to them: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” HYMN lasst uns erfreuen PENITENTIAL ACT New Plainsong Mass hurd GLORIA Missa de angelis vatican mass viii COLLECT LITURGY OF THE WORD READING I Isaiah 61:1–3a The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn; to place on those who mourn in Zion a diadem instead of ashes, to give them oil of gladness in place of mourning, a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 19 wisniewski The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the The fear of the Lord is pure, abiding for ever. soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, The ordinances of the Lord are true, giving wisdom to the simple. R all of them just. R The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing They are more precious than gold, than a the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, heap of purest gold, sweeter also than syrup, or enlightening the eyes. R honey from the comb. R READING II hebrews 5:1–10 Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: You are my son: this day I have begotten you; just as he says in another place: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, declared by God high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION murray GOSPEL john 15:9–17 Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.” RITE OF ORDINATION PRESENTATION OF THE CANDIDATES The deacon calls the candidates forward. Reverend Pablo Migone, Director of Vocations, presents the candidates to the Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes, Bishop of Savannah, and testifies to their readiness. ELECTION BY THE BISHOP AND CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE Bishop: Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose these men, our brothers, for the Order of the Priesthood. All: Thanks be to God. All present indicate their assent by applause. HOMILY The Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes, D.D. Bishop of Savannah PROMISES OF THE ELECT The elect rise and stand before the Bishop, who questions them in these words: Bishop: Dear sons, before you enter the Order of the Priesthood, you must declare before the people your intention to undertake this office. Do you resolve, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail the office of priesthood in the presbyteral rank, as worthy fellow workers with the Order of Bishops for the Lord's flock? Elect: I do. Bishop: Do you resolve to exercise the ministry of the word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith? Elect: I do. Bishop: Do you resolve to celebrate faithfully and reverently, in accord with the Church’s tradition, the mysteries of Christ, especially the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, for the glory of God and the sanctification of the Christian people? Elect: I do. Bishop: Do you resolve to implore with us God’s mercy upon the people entrusted to your care by observing the command to pray without ceasing? Elect: I do. Bishop: Do you resolve to be united more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice, and with him to consecrate yourself to God for the salvation of all? Elect: I do, with the help of God. Each of the elect goes to the Bishop and, kneeling, places his joined hands between those of the Bishop. Bishop: Do you promise respect and obedience to me and my successors? Elect: I do. LITANY OF SUPPLICATION The elect prostrate themselves and the Litany of the Saints is sung. This prayer asks for the intercession of the saints in order that God may look favorably upon those to be ordained. The faithful are to join their prayers for the elect to those of the Bishop. Bishop: Hear us, we beseech you, Lord our God, and pour out on these servants of yours the blessing of the Holy Spirit and the power of priestly grace, that those whom in the sight of your mercy we offer to be consecrated, may be surrounded by your rich and unfailing gifts. Through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. LAYING ON OF HANDS AND PRAYER OF ORDINATION First the bishop, in silence, imposes hands upon the candidates and invokes the Holy Spirit. Next, all of the priests pres- ent lay hands on the elect. This communal laying on of hands is to ritualize the fact that they are to be ordained into the presbyteral college of the local Church and that “they all have a common and similar spirit.” The Bishop alone says the Prayer of Ordination. While this prayer is being prayed, the faithful are to join their prayers silently to those of the Bishop. Once this prayer is concluded, those being ordained are priests. Veni Creator Spiritus mode viii Come, Creator Spirit, visit the souls of your devoted; with your divine grace fill the hearts you have created.