‘The Lord has chosen you to make a difference’

Three men ordained priests for the Diocese of Charlotte

HUNTERSVILLE — “Love, joy, friendship and choice: four fundamental words for discipleship, four indispensable words for priesthood.”

These four words, Atlanta Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer said, describe the call to ministry for Christopher Brock, Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu and Peter Rusciolelli, who were ordained to the priesthood June 17.

More than a thousand people filled St. Mark Church in Huntersville for the ordination Mass. Archbishop Hartmayer, OFM Conv., celebrated the Mass at the request of Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis, who is experiencing health issues which prevented his attendance. Archbishop Hartmayer used Bishop Jugis’ crozier at the Mass in a sign of unity between the bishops, and he offered a prayer for strength and healing for Bishop Jugis as the Mass began.

Archbishop Hartmayer also entrusted the three men being ordained to Mary, Mother of Priests, and to her Immaculate Heart, the feast celebrated on the day of their ordination. “Today, stay close to her, seek her intercession and be inspired by her example. Imitate the actions of Mary and ponder these things in your heart every day,” he said.

The ordination rite began with Brock, Nnebe-Agumadu and Rusciolelli coming forward to the altar and expressing their willingness to be ordained and promising to take on the responsibilities of the priesthood. Then Archbishop Hartmayer directed his homily to them.

“The Lord loves you. He rejoices in you. He is your friend, and He has chosen you,” the archbishop told them.

“The Lord wants you to be His priests. Be certain of the Lord’s love for you and be sure of the Lord’s call to you.”

At the end of the ordination Mass, the three new priests’ assignments were announced by Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte.

Starting July 11, Father Brock will serve as parochial vicar of Holy Cross Parish in Kernersville, Father NnebeAgumadu will serve as parochial vicar of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville, and Father Rusciolelli will serve as parochial vicar of St. Leo the Great Parish in Winston-Salem.

‘LOVE, JOY, FRIENDSHIP, CHOICE’

In his homily, Archbishop Hartmayer told the three men, “Love: your priesthood must be characterized by a love modeled on Christ. You are called to love often in the simplest ways – through kindness, courtesy and patience, overflowing from a heart united to Christ, the heart of a shepherd.”

“Joy: joy is the echo of God’s life within us,” he added. “Today you are configured to Christ. By a special grace of the Holy Spirit, He will make your joy complete.”

“In your priestly ministry evangelize, preach, teach, witness and announce the joyful Gospel of salvation and Good News to everyone – without exception. We need to hear the Good News. We need to hear it from you. We need to hear you proclaim it. We need to see you live it.”

Friendship with Christ, Archbishop Hartmayer continued, is a vital part of a priest’s ministry. “A new and permanent intimacy with Christ begins through the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration. Ordination shapes your being into the likeness of Christ the priest,

More than a thousand people from across western North Carolina fill St. Mark Church in Huntersville to pray and celebrate the ordination of three new priests for the Diocese of Charlotte. Carrying Bishop Peter Jugis’ crozier, Atlanta Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv., (far left) celebrates the June 17 ordination Mass.

Christ the teacher, Christ the shepherd. Allow this interior change to expand your friendship with Christ through the daily celebration of the Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the prayerful devotional nurturing of your inner life.”

“Finally, choice: Your priesthood flows from Christ’s choice of you. Before you ever thought of Him, He had already chosen you,” Archbishop Hartmayer said. “The Lord has chosen you to make a difference.”

“His love and joy are yours. In friendship He chose you to be His priest, and in friendship you said yes,” he added.

“You have a lot to do as a priest, and you have a lot to give as priests,” Archbishop Hartmayer smiled as he continued sharing his advice to the three ordinands. “Moved by His example… enter fully into the fabric of society, sharing the lives of all, listening to their concerns, helping them materially and spiritually in their needs, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep, arm and arm with others.”

LAYING ON OF HANDS, VESTING AND ANOINTING

After the archbishop’s homily the Litany of Supplication followed, during which the men lay prostrate before the altar as Archbishop Hartmayer and everyone gathered at the Mass knelt in prayer as the Litany of the Saints was chanted by the congregation and choir.

Then they arose and approached the archbishop, who laid his hands on their heads. During this most solemn moment of the ordination rite, Archbishop Hartmayer prayed silently over them for the Holy Spirit to descend upon them. Dozens of priests in attendance at the ordination Mass then followed suit, laying hands on the three men in a sign of priestly fraternity and unity. During the vesting portion of the ordination rite, the men were vested by people who played meaningful roles in their journey to the priesthood. Father Brock was vested by Father Joshua Voitus, Father Nnebe-Agumadu was vested by Father Bernard Oleru, M.S.P., and Father Rusciolelli was vested by Father Christopher Roux. The three new priests’ hands were anointed with sacred chrism, and the archbishop presented them with chalices and patens to signify their authority to celebrate the Eucharist. After the kiss of peace, the new priests joined the archbishop and other clergy o the altar to concelebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist for their first time.

Giving Thanks For Their Formation

At the end of Mass, Monsignor Winslow thanked Archbishop Hartmayer and all who have helped form the new priests, including Father Christopher Gober, diocesan vocations director; Father Anthony Brausch, rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology in Ohio; and Father Matthew Kauth, rector of St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly.

“Throughout their formation these men have been shaped by you, the very people they serve. Your support and encouragement have played an invaluable role in bringing them to this moment and like all priests called to serve, they will continue to rely on your prayers, your guidance, your expertise and, yes, even sometimes your patience,” Monsignor Winslow said. “Finally, all of us want to thank the parents of these young men as the first and primary formators. You should be proud.”

As rector of the local college seminary, Father Kauth shared insights into the men’s formation in comments after Mass.

“The process is long but necessary because the man has to be examined in every way possible, tried in every way possible, because the way that he takes on the priesthood needs to have a very solid structure from which to sit,” Father Kauth said.

Though he played a leadership role in the men’s formation, Father Kauth also noted a sense of solidarity and camaraderie with the newly ordained.

“When the new priests get here, for the rest of us team members, they’re all like ‘All Stars.’ The load is less (burdensome) when everyone else is carrying it with you,” he said. “I can’t express to you how much you feel strengthened by each one who comes through, especially when you know them to be the men of character that they are.”

More online

At www.catholicnewsherald.com : See full coverage from the ordination Mass, including more photos, video highlights, profiles of each of the three new priests, and much more.

The most solemn of

Following their ordination, the new priests are vested and take their place beside Archbishop Hartmayer on the altar to concelebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The mothers of the new priests bring up the offertory gifts. At the end of Mass, the priests give their first blessings to Archbishop Hartmayer. Then they give first blessings to their parents, then to well-wishers. (Below) People enjoy a spontaneous musical celebration featuring African drums in honor of Father Nnebe-Agumadu’s ordination.

El momento más solemne de la Misa de ordenación fue la imposición de manos del arzobispo, seguido de los sacerdotes de la diócesis.

PHOTOS POR AMY BURGER, TRAVIS BURTON, LIZ CHANDLER Y TROY HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD