from the bishop

Paul Curran. Father Corrigan taught me how to serve Mass and answer the prayers in Latin. He also came to our home the night my mother died and gave her the Last Rites of the Church. Father McDonough was one of three brothers who became priests, one of them later the Archbishop of Louisville. Father O’Brien baptized me. Father was a steady, no-nonsense associate pastor. Later came Father John Oulds, who exemplified holiness in the priesthood. Msgr. Nugent was very much like a grandfather to me, and gifted me with his Chalice when I was ordained a priest. He also preached the homily at my First Mass of Thanksgiving. That which stands out in my mind is that in the wake of the clergy scandals in the Church, none, not one of these priests has ever been accused of misconduct, and these men became models for me. When I saw them celebrate Mass or minister in the parish, I had this feeling that God was calling me to do the same. In retrospect, they were holier than me, better preachers, especially Father Curran who died this past year, and father-like men like Msgr. Nugent.

Ask any priest about his story, and he’ll be able to tell you about the priests in his life who became the models for his own priestly vocation. I am sure that soon-to-be Fathers Gabriel Cisneros and Kelby Tingle have their own vocation story. And without them knowing how, they, too, are becoming models for future priests.

I can tell you from my own experience that prayers from those I have served have sustained me throughout almost 46 years of ministry. So I am not shy about asking for your continued prayers for me – AND for the priests who serve you now, AND for the two new priests about to be ordained. The strength that comes from such prayers keeps us close to the Lord and to you. May the month of June in which we add two more to the number of those who serve us be a special time when we increase our prayers for them.

We invite all parishioners to join us in praying for our clergy and an increase in vocations

SEE PAGE 24 FOR A PRAYER CALENDAR TO USE TO PRAY FOR THE CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS IN OUR DIOCESE

WITH PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO ALMIGHTY GOD

THE DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO THE ORDINATION OF Gabriel Cisneros Campos

TO THE SACRED ORDER OF PRESBYTER

THROUGH THE IMPOSITION OF HANDS AND THE INVOCATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

BY HIS EXCELLENCY

MOST REVEREND FRANCIS I. MALONE BISHOP OF SHREVEPORT

Saturday, The Twenty-Fourth Day Of June

Two Thousand and Twenty-Three Ten O'Clock In The Morning

Cathedral of St. John Berchmans

939 Jordan Street

Shreveport, Louisiana 71101