(Catholic Herald photos/Kevin Wondrash)
PLATTEVILLE — The December 9 observance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception was a special one for three men.
Fr. Filipe Alvial, Fr. Vincent Salas, and Fr. Jerry Zhanay were ordained to the priesthood at St. Mary Church in Platteville. The date and location were selected to offer students at UW-Platteville an opportunity to experience attending a presbyterial ordination.
The priests are from the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest. Their assignments will be given to them through that order. They were ordained to the diaconate in August at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison.
The Mass begins
The Classic Choir of St. Mary’s, with their organist Tim Durst, provided music for the processional hymn, “O God, Beyond all Praising.”
The procession was led by the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard and the Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison processed in with other priests from the Diocese of Madison who concelebrated the Mass.
He welcomed everyone who came to “pray very hard with us tonight” for the new priests, calling it a “beautiful evening.”
Msgr. James Bartylla, vicar general for the diocese, later read Luke’s Gospel passage on the Visitation of the angel Gabriel to Mary telling her she was to give birth to Jesus, a timely reading for Advent and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Homily and ordination
After the Gospel, the three future priests were presented to Bishop Morlino as candidates for the priesthood. Their election was followed by the bishop’s homily.
“What a joy that it is for me that tonight, in a very special way, I can call you my sons,” he began, as he spoke to the deacons, seated in front.
He spoke of the bond he will have with new priests in “good times and in bad times.”
Bishop Morlino then preached on the significance of the feast day and of the Blessed Mother in her role to “trample on the head of the ancient serpent,” calling her a “powerful intercessor in the battle again evil.”
He advised the soon-to-be priests to never forget Mary when they are battling against evil or times of temptation, adding temptations do not cease when one is ordained to the priesthood.
“Never face a temptation without Mary at your side,” the bishop told them.
Following the homily, the three deacons participated in the Promise of the Elect. They each declared their intention to undertake the office of priesthood and their obedience to the bishop and his successors.
Next, while the Litany of Supplication was sung and prayed by the congregation, the three men lay prostrate, allowing themselves to be “changed” by the Holy Spirit, in anticipation of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Following that part of the ceremony, the ordinandi each approached the bishop for the Laying on of Hands as he placed his hands over them in a blessing. The concelebrating priests also filed past them to lay their hands upon them.
Then, the new priests were vested with their stole and chasuble, while the choir sang “Ave Maria.”
In the ancient sign of God’s call, Bishop Morlino anointed the hands of the ordained with sacred chrism.
The bishop, followed by the concelebrating priests, all gave their new brothers a sign of peace.
Everyone then participated in the Profession of Faith as the Mass continued.
Three new priests
During the Eucharistic Prayer, the new priests joined the bishop in saying the prayers at the altar. They also served as the distributors of Holy Communion.
Toward the conclusion of the Mass, the new priests each gave their first blessing to Bishop Morlino, as per tradition.
Following the Mass, the three new priests spent more than an hour blessing most of the members of the congregation who stayed. A long lined formed as each person took their turn to be blessed by each of them.
After the blessings, a reception was held at the church hosted by the Platteville Council of Catholic Women.