JUNE 18, 2015 • www.TrentonMonitor.com
Called to Be
Ordinations
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M ‘ en of God’
ORDINATION CLASS • The five new priests pose with the Bishop following their June 6 ordination Mass. From left are Father Arian Wharff, Father Jarlath Quinn, Bishop O’Connell, Father Jason Parzynski, Father John Large, Father James Grogran and Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly, diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life. Craig Pittelli photos
Bishop ordains five new priests to serve the diocesan family of faith By Lois Rogers Correspondent
T
he vast nave of St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, resounded with joy June 6 as Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., ordained five new priests for the Diocese of Trenton. Applause swept the sacred space, soaring to the rafters, and tears fell freely among the near capacity congregation of family members, friends, fellow parishioners and well wishers who came to witness the ordination of Father James. J. Grogan; Father John Edward Large; Father Jason Martin Parzynski; Father Jarlath William David Quinn, and Father Arian Hernando Wharff Galvis to the priesthood. Adding to the palpable excitement was that among the 700 in the pews, were so many family members and friends who had traveled great distances – from Ireland, Colombia and Michigan – to be there. In attendance with them, were more than 50 priest concelebrants, upwards of 40 permanent deacons and 25 seminarians. Concelebrating with
Bishop O’Connell were retired Bishop Bernard Joseph Harrington of Winona, Minn., Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald of the Philadelphia Archdiocese and Father Michael J. Carroll, Vincentian provincial of the order’s Eastern Province. Representatives of seminaries which prepared the men were also in attendance, including Father Edward Griswold, a priest of the Trenton Diocese and vice rector from St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, along with Father Robert Suszko, vice rector from Immaculate Conception Seminary, South Orange. Sulpician Father Melvin C. Blanchette, former rector and current formation advisor and spiritual director of Theological College, the national seminary of The Catholic University of America, Washington, was present as was Msgr. Robert Sable, auditor with the tribunal of the Roman Rota. In his homily, preached as the Rite of Ordination was unfolding, Bishop O’Connell drew on the teaching and words of St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Congregation of the Mission, of his own religious order. He noted that St. Vincent spent much of his ministry in the training and service of diocesan priests. “He saw the priesthood as an opportunity for people in the parishes to encounter Jesus Christ, the teaching Christ, the healing Christ, the consoling Christ, the forgiving Christ, the merciful Christ, the living God, Jesus Christ.” The Bishop quoted St. Vincent’s words: “There is nothing greater in the world, nothing I say, than the formation of good priests.” “As a son of St. Vincent and your Bishop, I believe that with all EVER OBEDIENT • Father Large pledges his fealty to Bishop O’Connell and his successors during the my heart. And that ordination Mass.
LINE OF MELCHIZEDEK • Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., ordains Jason Parzynski to the priesthood before hundreds of faithful during a June 6 Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
is what brings us here today in the Diocese of Trenton. We have before us five young men – your sons and brothers and friends – who have completed their seminary formation and are about to be ordained priests. They are good men.” He spoke of the different journeys each had and the different experiences behind them. “They are from Ireland, Colombia, Michigan, Middletown and Moorestown, New Jersey. They have been formed well. They are ready. And the Church of the Diocese of Trenton needs them. We need them.” “What do we need them for?” queried Bishop O’Connell about the newly ordained. “What do we need from them? What do we need them to be?” He said fervently, “We need them to be See Priestly • S-6