Society of Jesus is 'a gift' to NY Archdiocese, says cardinal as he ordains 5 new Jesuits

NEW YORK (OSV News) -- "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it," New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan said as he welcomed hundreds of priests, family members, friends and guests who filled St. Ignatius Loyola Church for a majestic ceremony -- the ordination of five Jesuits.

The five new priests ordained June 14 are: Fathers Kieran D. Halloran, Douglas A. Jones, Joseph B. Lorenz, Jonathan P. Pennacchia and Melvin T. Rayappa. Father Halloran and Father Pennacchia both come from parishes in the Archdiocese of New York.

Cardinal Dolan was the principal celebrant of the Mass. He was joined by New York Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo J. Colacicco and Jesuit Father Joseph M. O'Keefe, the first provincial of the Jesuits' U.S. East province.

Father O'Keefe presented the candidates for ordination, and after Cardinal Dolan declared them worthy, the five men received rapturous applause.

"Might I begin with a word of gratitude? Gratitude, sure, for the honor of ordaining these five men. But also gratitude to the Society of Jesus for your luminous apostolate in these acres of the Lord's vineyard that we call the Archdiocese of New York," the cardinal said in his homily.

"You, dear Jesuits, your renowned ministry in education, parish work, prison ministry, retreat guidance, spiritual direction, journalism, scholarship -- are a gift to us. A gift to us here," he said.

Reflecting on his recent time in Rome mourning for Pope Francis, Cardinal Dolan said he had come to a conclusion. "How good the Lord is to his church. How he has not left his flock untended."

He listed the attributes of St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, and how each renewed the church in soul, mind and heart, respectively. "Soul, mind and heart. And this morning, we behold how good the Lord is to his church in these five brand spanking new priests."

At the end of the ordination, Father O'Keefe offered emotional thanks to Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Colacicco, to all those who attended and helped organize the event, and especially to the parents of the ordinands.

"Kieran, Doug, Joe, Jonathan and Melvin: I speak on my own behalf, for sure. I speak also on behalf of all of your brothers in the Society of Jesus," he said. "We are so grateful to God for the gift that you are. For your companionship, for your brotherhood, for your labors in the vineyard.

"And so we say, brothers, may God continue to bless you. May God, who brought you to this point, I know will be with you. I often think of the thousands of lives you will touch, to bring hope, and faith, and goodness. Thank you for saying 'yes,'" Father O'Keefe said to loud applause.

Cardinal Dolan then asked to receive each of the priests' first blessings, joined by Father O'Keefe.

"I'm ecstatic," said newly ordained Father Halloran. "I am in complete awe that it has happened after 11 years of formation, but I'm just absolutely overjoyed."

"It's been a process," said Marie Halloran, Father Halloran's mother, after watching her son's ordination. "It was difficult in the beginning. I had a lot of children, and I always expected my children to have a lot of children. Obviously, he will have a lot of children in a different way. And I've just gotten used to it sooner than later. He's so happy, you can just see him."

She offered advice to other mothers whose sons are considering a vocation. "We have to let our children do what they want to do, and there couldn't be any higher calling or more honorable thing to do for our people," Halloran told The Good Newsroom, the New York Archdiocese's digital news outlet.

Although Jesuits may begin their work as priests upon ordination, it is not the end of their formation. Before taking final vows, Jesuits participate in a process called tertianship. The complete formation process can take up to 20 years.

The Society of Jesus was founded in 1540 by Saint Ignatius Loyola and his companions. Pope Francis was a member of the Jesuit order and is the only Jesuit pope to date.