By Jennifer Mauro | Associate Editor

Two hours before the Mass in which he would be ordained a priest, Deacon Michael Kennedy sat alone in a pew in Trenton’s Cathedral, praying.

“The reality of it is, up until this point, it’s been theoretical talk,” he said of the studious journey that was about to take a new and joyous turn.

Running his palms along his knees, his throat caught. “I’m excited, but I’m also nervous.”

Photo Gallery: 2017 Priest Ordination
Commemorative Issue: 2017 Priest Ordination

Moments later, Deacon Thomas J. Barry Jr. entered the front of the church, early morning rain drops clinging to his jacket.

“I’m ready to have the formation process come to an end and the life of a priest to begin,” he said.

Deacon Michael A. Gentile Jr., arriving with his arms full of items he would need for the day’s events, smiled as he spoke of the step he was about to take. “I’m so thankful for the journey I’ve been on so far. I’m looking forward to ministering to the people of St. Dominic and all over the Diocese,” he said, referencing the Brick parish he will serve as parochial vicar. “I hope to do our Lord’s work.”

Deacon Roy Aris B. Ballacillo stood at the back of the church, looking toward the altar and the dozens of pews that lie ahead.

“I’m so overwhelmed and excited right now,” he said. “I’m looking forward to this beautiful liturgy. I’m going to do my best to stay focused and bring myself into the moment.”

And what a moment it was for the four men who entered St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, as deacons this rainy June 3 morning but left as the Diocese’s newest shepherds.

The excitement was palpable as family, friends and religious men and women greeted each other before the 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

“This is something any Catholic mother would find special,” Father Gentile’s mother, Barbara, said as she anticipated the start of Mass. “It was a long journey, but he’s really, really happy.”

Michael Gentile Sr. said his son being ordained a priest was more than the family could have ever hoped for. “I asked the Bishop to take care of my son, and he said he would.”

Introductory Rites

As the Diocesan Festival Choir, accompanied by instruments, marked the start of Mass by singing “Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him” and “Ecce Sacerdo Magnus,” the men’s diocesan father processed down the aisle behind the more than 100-strong contingent that included diocesan priests and others from outside the Diocese, deacons, seminary representatives and acolytes. 

“It’s my honor and privilege as Bishop to welcome you all to this celebration of the conferral of Holy Orders on these four good men,” Bishop O’Connell said in greeting the faithful before the day’s Readings were proclaimed.

Both Readings touched upon the priesthood. The first, from Isaiah 61:1-3, stated, “The Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted … to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God…”

The Second Reading, from Hebrews 5:1-10, read, “Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God.”

The Gospel, John 10:11-16, was proclaimed by Rev. Mr. Michael G. DeSaye, who was ordained a transitional deacon May 20. “Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd. … Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, I will lay down my life for the sheep,’” he read.

Following the Gospel, Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly, diocesan episcopal vicar for clergy and consecrated life, began the Rite of Ordination.

“Let those who are to be ordained priests come forward,” he said, calling the men by name. Each responded individually with a strong, “Present.”

“Most Reverend Father, Holy Mother Church asks you to ordain these, our brothers, to the responsibility of the priesthood,” Msgr. Mullelly said.

“Do you know them to be worthy?” Bishop O’Connell asked, to which Msgr. Mullelly answered in the affirmative.

“Relying on the help of the Lord God … we choose these, our brothers, to the order of priesthood,” Bishop O’Connell said as the congregation erupted in applause.

Mentors of Faith

“I have never used Twitter. I don’t even know how to tweet,” the Bishop said to laughter as he began his homily, explaining that he didn’t need the social networking site to keep his message concise. “In my message to these four good men today, I would write, ‘Be men of God and men of prayer. Never stop talking to or listening to Christ.

“Be men of the Church. Realize your call is from God through Christ in the Church. Teach and preach his message always.

“Be men of the Diocese knowing that you will serve in many places but [that] the Diocese is your home, and we,” he said, gesturing to the dozens of fellow priests seated in the sanctuary, “we are your brothers.”

“Be men who seek to be holy and to inspire holiness in the people of God. Be faithful to your calling. Be joyful. Be close to your people. Be kind and understanding and merciful. Let the people of God see Christ, the good shepherd, in your eyes, in your hands, in your heart, and in the witness of your entire lives. Be good at what you do, and do good.’”

“Let us now listen to the instruction of the Church,” Bishop O’Connell said, moving from his personal comments of the homily to reading from the liturgical book that contains the rites used by bishops.

“Because these our sons who are your relatives and friends are now to be advanced to the order of priests, consider carefully the order of rank in the Church to which they are about to be raised.

“It is true that God has made his entire holy people a royal priesthood in Christ. Nevertheless, our great priest himself, Jesus Christ, chose certain disciples to carry out publicly in his name, and on behalf of mankind, a priestly office in the Church. For Christ was sent by the father and he in turn sent the apostles into the world, so that through them and their successors, the bishops, he might continue to exercise his office of teacher, priest and shepherd.

“Indeed, priests are established co-workers of the Order of Bishops, with whom they are joined in the priestly office and with whom they are called to the service of the people of God. After mature deliberation and prayer, these, our brothers, are now to be ordained to the priesthood.”

The Bishop then called the men to the Promise of the Elect, as each declared his intention to assume the responsibilities of the priest. Deacons Ballacillo, Barry, Gentile and Kennedy each knelt before the Bishop and placed their hands in his, promising obedience.

Prepared for ordination, the men then lie prostrate on the floor of the sanctuary as the solemn chant of the Litany of Saints echoed throughout the Cathedral, the prayerful names and tone in which they were sung a reminder of a faith rooted in centuries of tradition.

The men returned to kneel before the Bishop, and with a look of tenderness, the Bishop laid his hands on the heads of the deacons, a gesture rooted in Scripture that indicates the bestowing of the Holy Spirit and one that ordained them priests. As the Festival Choir sang “Come Down, Creator Spirit,” the Diocese’s concelebrating priests, one by one, each laid their own hands upon the new priests’ heads.

The men were then bestowed with the vestments of their office – the stole and chasuble.

After donning their new vestments, the priests once again knelt before Bishop O’Connell, who anointed their hands for the sacred work they would be doing. Their families looked on with pride and tears as the Bishop placed the sacred Oil of Chrism on their palms, wrapping their hands in a linen cloth. 

One parent brought a tissue to her face, wiping at the corner of her eyes as her son knelt before the Bishop. A father, seemingly stoic throughout the service, sat up a bit straighter and swallowed hard with emotion as his son was anointed with the Chrism.

After the Kiss of Peace – bestowed by the Bishop and then by the concelebrating priests who once again lined up to give a fraternal kiss, hug and warm smile to their new brothers – the Mass continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Father Barry, Father Ballacillo, Father Kennedy and Father Gentile joined Bishop O’Connell at the Lord’s table as concelebrants, each offering up a petition to the Lord.

At Communion, the newly ordained formed a cross – two in front, one at each side of the front pews – and helped administer the Sacrament to the faithful.

Congratulations All Around

After Mass, as the congregation lined up to receive a blessing from the new priests, family reflected on the momentous journey their loved ones had just undertaken.

“The depth you need to fully turn yourself over to your vocation … I can only image how much humility that would take,” said Father Kennedy’s sister Elizabeth Smith.

Father Ballacillo’s father, Fernando, called the day a miracle. “It’s a big blessing for us all.”

Father Barry’s mother also called the day a blessing. “He has such a great, loving heart,” Patricia Mills said of her son. “He has such a drive to do good for the Church.

“It was so special that he was chosen … and that he accepted it,” she continued, explaining how privileged she feels to be the mother of a newly ordained priest. “I always feel, ‘Why me? I’m just an ordinary mother.’”

Father Kennedy’s family had Mrs. Kennedy on their minds, especially as the new priest stood where he had been assigned to bless congregants: near a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Anne Constance Kennedy died May 13 – the day the Blessed Mother first appeared to the children of Fatima, Portugal.

“My mom in a real way was part of everything happening today,” Father Kennedy’s sister said.

Added his father, Peter, “She certainly prayed enough for him and held on as long as she could.”

Then, her face brightening, Father Kennedy’s sister said how moving it was to see the Bishop lay his hand on her brother’s head and recite the prayer that would make him priest.

“There was so much joy coming out of him and I felt it was a preview of what he will bring out of his parishioners,” Smith said of her brother.

That excitement was shared by the new priests’ family in Christ, too.

“It’s like seeing your older brother finally make it,” said Rev. Brother Nicholas R. Dolan of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank, who was ordained a transitional deacon May 20. “It gives you courage that if they can make it, you can, too.”

Same Day, New Men

As the afternoon of celebration came to a close and the last of the congregants trickled out after receiving a blessing, the church regained a hint of the stillness that had greeted the four men earlier in the morning. The rain was replaced by sunshine, and a pleasant breeze blew through the open doors.

“I listened to every word the Bishop was saying,” Father Ballacillo said, keeping the promise he had made at the day’s start to stay in the moment. “I felt like God was present in the Holy Spirit. It was a moment I’ll never forget.”

Said Father Gentile, “I thought I would be nervous, and I was, but it was also very peaceful. That’s what made it so enjoyable.”

So ready that morning to embark in the priesthood, Father Barry simply said, “It’s begun,” before smiling widely as he bestowed a blessing to a waiting congregant in the near-empty church.

Father Kennedy, who only hours before had been praying as a deacon in the Cathedral pews, said that as he was lying prostrate during the Litany of the Saints, he was thinking of his mother, naturally, but also “praying a lot that Christ would give me the strength to be a good and faithful servant.”

As for the apparent nerves earlier that day, “I’m less nervous now,” he said, and laughed.