Serving Christ and Connecting Catholics in Western North Carolina
Ordaining priests is the greatest privilege that I have as a bishop. Period. When, at the high point of the ceremony, I place my hands on the head of a deacon and call forth the Holy Spirit upon him, I stand in the tradition of the Apostles, who similarly laid hands on those to whom they imparted authority. I can testify that nothing in my life has ever made me feel more humble and more grateful.
On the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination, then Pope John Paul II described every vocation as a “gift and mystery.” The late Holy Father’s words provide a lens into the origin of every priestly vocation.