Diocese of Salt Lake ordains two priests

IC photos by Marie Mischel

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After election by Bishop John C. Wester and receiving the consent of the people, the newly ordained priests are applauded during the Ordination Mass May 29 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

SALT LAKE CITY - During a Mass that reflected the global nature of the Roman Catholic Church, Father Joseph Frez and Father Tai Nguyen were ordained priests by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, in the Cathedral of the Madeleine on May 29.

The Mass was celebrated in English, Spanish, Latin, Vietnamese and Tagalog.

Fr. Nguyen was born in Vietnam and Fr. Frez in the Philippines; some members of their families were able to join the celebration at the Cathedral and were welcomed by Bishop Wester during the ceremony.

"We also are one in prayer with your family members who were unable to join us but who are with us very much in spirit," Bishop Wester said. For Fr. Nguyen and Fr. Frez, "we give thanks to God for their call and their generous response," the bishop said. "By virtue of the sacrament of orders, in the image of Christ, the eternal high priest, presbyters are consecrated to preach the gospel, to shepherd the faithful and to celebrate divine mercy as true priests of the New Testament. The Church of Salt Lake City rejoices today in the celebration of the sacrament of holy orders for two of its members."

During his homily, Bishop Wester said all of us are called to perform good deeds in our lives as our personal path to holiness, but "you, my dear brothers Joe and Tai, you are called today to focus on the good deeds of the priest that Christ makes possible through his light and his love. We recognize that it is Christ who will give you the grace to do what you are now being called to do. You can do nothing on your own. Your only hope is to abide in Christ. Christ's love for you and yours for him will illuminate your face and make you turn a light to your people."

Bishop Wester warned the new priests that "you are not becoming part of a privileged class, but rather you are to keep Mother Church's exhortation, to keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who came not to be served but to serve, and who came to seek out what was lost."

Priests are called to evangelize through the Word, the bishop said, urging them to make the Holy Scriptures - especially the Gospels - the core of their lives.

In addition, priests are called to be leaders in a world where some try to keep the Gospel from being heard, Bishop Wester said. "Remember that you cannot do this alone," he said. "You are called to a collaborative ministry. You are called to work closely with lay ecclesial ministers, religious, women and men, youth, young adults - all are a part of your ministry. Your effective collaboration with these fellow ministers will be one of the ways you lead them to Christ."