By EMMALEE ITALIA
Contributing Editor
Bishop O’Connell imposes hands on the head of Rev. Mr. Bridges, ordaining him to the Order of Sacred Priesthood. John Batkowski photo
In a book commemorating his 50th anniversary of priestly Ordination, Pope John Paul II described his vocation as “gift and mystery.”
At the May 31 Ordination Mass of Father Alan Bridges, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., told the priest candidate that the description of “gift and mystery,” was “a prism through which to view the life and mission you are about to undertake as a priest.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Ordination Mass
PHOTO GALLERY: Father Bridges’ Ordination Mass — second gallery
“You were chosen for this gift, set apart from all else that you could have been in this world,” Bishop O’Connell said in his homily, “because God wanted YOU to receive this gift … the words that the Church addresses to you today will make that abundantly clear to you, and to us all.”
‘Ever Ancient, Ever New’
Celebrated in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, the Mass was livestreamed across diocesan media outlets and was concelebrated by dozens of priests of the Diocese, with assistance from seminarians. Also in attendance were transitional and permanent deacons, several of whom were ordained to the diaconate with Rev. Mr. Bridges the previous year; fellow Catholics from his childhood parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Newark; as well as hundreds of faithful from the Trenton Diocese.
“The gift you receive this day will reveal the truth of God’s Word through what you preach, will show mercy to those who have neither earned nor deserved it,” Bishop O’Connell said. “It will restore hope and justice to those who are desperate and forlorn; will lead you to counsel, to seek and save the lost; will bring light to their dark places; will turn time into eternity as you mirror the face of Christ, the heart of Christ, who came to serve and not be served.”
The mystery, the Bishop said, is a question: “Why you? Why any of us?”
He quoted Jeremiah 1:5, “Before you were born, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart.”
“Yes, for a gift, for a mystery, for a priesthood that invites us, my brother priests and you, the newest among us: to ‘know what you are doing and to imitate what you handle,’” he said.
As family and friends of Rev. Mr. Bridges gave witness, he was called to declare his intent to assume the responsibilities of the priesthood. Placing his hands in Bishop O’Connell’s for the Promise of Obedience, he promised to respect and obey the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese and his successors.
Lying prostrate on the floor before the altar, Rev. Mr. Bridges prayed as those present chanted the Litany of the Saints. The rite continued with the Bishop laying his hands on Rev. Mr. Bridges’ head, signifying the conferral of the Holy Spirit, whose power permits the Church to ordain candidates to Holy Orders. Concelebrating priests followed suit.
Father Michael Roach vested Father Bridges with the stole and chasuble. Father Roach is a retired priest from Maryland who lives and works at Mount St. Mary Seminary as a professor of Church history; Father Bridges described him as one of his greatest mentors.
The Ordination rite continued with Bishop O’Connell anointing the hands of the newly ordained Father Bridges. The rite concluded with the presentation of the paten and chalice and the Kiss of Peace, in which Bishop O’Connell and the concelebrating priests gave Father Bridges a fraternal embrace.
Heart of a Servant
Following Mass, Father Bridges offered his first priestly blessings to his parents, Jack and Barbara Bridges.
“We are here wholeheartedly, with much confidence that he’s going to be a very good shepherd of God’s people,” said Barbara Bridges. “This is his true calling. He’s got a gift, and we’re so proud of him … I think he’ll be able to reach people, he’s got a good personality.”
Those attending the ordination were eager to offer their support and reflect on priestly qualities they had already observed in Father Bridges.
“Being at an Ordination as a priest is always special, but having a son of your parish being ordained as a priest is even more so,” said Father Richard Osborne, pastor of St. Catharine Laboure Parish, Middletown, which Father Bridges has designated as his home parish in the Diocese.
“He’s just a good, faithful man of God who loves the Lord and wants to help others to know and love him,” Father Osborne said.
“God is his No. 1 priority in life,” said Jacob Simila, parishioner of Holy Angels Parish, Camden, and a friend of Father Bridges who attended the seminary for a year with him. “I’m sure God will give him all the graces he needs.”
Samantha Chipman and Chris Pfirrman, parishioners of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, got to know Father Bridges when, as a seminarian, he served a summer assignment there two years ago.
“He’s very reverent; it’s obvious that he wants to serve the Lord,” Chipman said. Pfirrman added, “He has a servant’s heart; he really puts others before himself, and that’s powerful.”
Many in attendance – including Eric Lavin, Louis Nicastro and Brendan Young – were from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Newark.
“I know he has a very keen sense of duty, and of responsibility – two very important qualities a priest has,” Lavin said.
Nicastro agreed. “I think he has a fraternal quality about him, which will help him connect with (those) looking to get in touch with their Catholic faith, and he has a respect and appreciation for the reverence of the Mass.”
“Alan’s already shown that he has the heart of a priest,” Young said. “He’s proven his dedication already, his perseverance – everything he does, he does wholeheartedly.”
“He’s a wonderful, compassionate person – and he’ll be a wonderful, compassionate, dedicated and devoted priest for hopefully decades to come,” said Joseph Tusa, who met Father Bridges through a mutual friend at his Newark parish of origin. Tusa and his wife Maria traveled from Louisiana for the Ordination.
“We’re proud of him; he’s in the right profession,” Joseph Tusa said. “He’s personable, he’s humble and he’s authentic.”
Father Bridges is assigned as parochial vicar in St. Joseph Parish, Toms River.
PHOTO GALLERY: Ordination Mass
PHOTO GALLERY: Father Bridges’ Ordination Mass — second gallery
Rev. Mr. Bridges excited to become a priest on May 31 Ordination day