'Taken from among men'
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Mary Stadnyk|News Editor
Priests are ordained “to form, to reform, to inform and to transform” the parish communities to which they are sent and the people they serve, proclaimed Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., before he ordained four new priests for the Diocese of Trenton June 1.
Invoking the words of his brother bishop, Bishop George Thomas of the Diocese of Helena, Mont., Bishop O’Connell told the men that before a priest can carry out his ministry effectively, he must first in his own life have been “formed, reformed, informed and transformed” by the Word of God. The Class of 2013 was the third group of priests the bishop ordained since becoming diocesan bishop three years ago. They were Father Carlos Aguirre, 31, Father Jorge Bedoya, 34, Father Garry R. Koch, 55, and Father Juan Gabriel Rojas, 28.
Looking out to an energetic, joy-filled gathering of more than 600 family members, friends and parishioners who came to St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, to witness the ordination, and the 70 priest concelebrants, an enthusiastic Bishop O’Connell extended heartfelt appreciation to the men who willingly offered “their lives to our Church to serve as priests.”
Setting a tone of exuberance that drew several rounds of applause, standing ovations and cheers from the congregation throughout the Mass, Bishop O’Connell said, “They’re ready, they’re willing, they can’t wait” to be ordained.
As the solemn Mass and Rite of Ordination marked the culmination of the formal faith formation process for each of the men – some of whom spent many years discerning their call to priesthood – Bishop O’Connell emphasized the life-changing reality that comes with ordination, “My brothers, you belong to Christ, to his Church, to your brother priests and to the people of the Diocese of Trenton.”
“For them you have already been consecrated in the truth; for them you will be ordained priests; for them you will be sent into the world to join the ranks of those who have come before you and with whom you will share a life and ministry.”
Quoting a homily once given by Pope Benedict XVI who referred to the priest as being “the bridge between God and his people,” Bishop O’Connell cited that the Holy Father had said, “it is through the preaching and ministry of the priest that the people come face to face with their Lord. Because of this, people expect to see in us as priests, in you, more than a man; they expect to see and hear and touch the Lord and we cannot let them down.”
“That is our call. That is our consecration,” said Bishop O’Connell.
A Priest Forever
The Rite of Ordination began as Rev. Messrs. Aguirre, Bedoya, Koch and Rojas came before Bishop O’Connell who announced that they had been chosen for the order of priesthood. Father Dennis Apoldite, director of the diocesan House of Priestly Formation, called the candidates forth. Each candidate told the bishop he came willingly and faithfully to the priesthood and then each man promised his obedience to the authority of the Church.
The four men then prostrated themselves on the floor before the altar as the Diocesan Festival Choir led the congregation in the chanting of the Litany of Saints. All prayed for the intercession of the saints, including the patron saints of the ordinands, to send the Holy Spirit down upon the new priests.
Bishop O’Connell ordained each man by laying his hands on their heads and praying silently, invoking the Holy Spirit upon each. The concelebrating priests who were in attendance then laid hands on the heads of the ordinands, signifying their sharing in one priesthood.
The newly ordained priests were then assisted by a brother priest to replace the vestments of the deacon with the stole and chasuble, the garments worn by the priests at Mass.
Father Aguirre’s vesting priest was his friend and mentor, Father Alexy Roldan of Colombia; Father Walter Quiceno, who was ordained last year and is parochial vicar of St. Jerome Parish, West Long Branch, was vesting priest for Father Bedoya; Father Joseph Farrell, pastor of Assumption Parish, New Egypt, was vesting priest for Father Koch; Msgr. Eugene Rebeck, pastor of St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, was vesting priest for Father Rojas.
The four priests once again knelt before the bishop as he anointed their palms. Following the presentation of the gifts by family members of the new priests, Bishop O’Connell presented each man with a paten and chalice, which went on to hold the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Each of the concelebrants greeted the new priests with a sign of peace in the form of an embrace. The new priests then joined Bishop O’Connell at the altar for the celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist for the first time. The first blessing that the newly ordained gave was to Bishop O’Connell, who knelt before each of them at the end of the Mass.
Sharing in their Joy
Among the throng who streamed into the cathedral that morning were family members and friends of the ordinands, including those had traveled from Colombia to share in their loved one’s special day. At least six busloads of parishioners filled the cathedral, representing communities where the men had served during their seminary formation and parish assignments.
In the weeks leading up to ordination day, Msgr. Richard LaVerghetta and the staff and parishioners in St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, have been cheering “Hip, Hip Jorge,” letting everyone know how elated they are that Father Bedoya, who served his transitional diaconate year assignment there, will be returning to the parish as parochial vicar at the end of June.
“He’s very happy and he’s very spiritual,” said parishioner, Dr. Catherine Michon, who spoke of how much she enjoyed getting to know Father Bedoya and learning his vocation story.
Fabian Osorio smiled as he shared how happy he was to make the trip from Colombia to see his good friend, Jorge, ordained a priest.
Tears welled in Phyllis Koch’s eyes as she reflected her son, Garry’s lifelong desire to be a priest. Though as a young man Father Koch had initially started to prepare for the priesthood, he “detoured” in his career path, spending 28 years as a religious studies teacher in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft.
“He was meant to be at Christian Brothers Academy,” said Koch. “In that time, he was helping to shape future fathers and leaders. But being a priest was always in his heart and today he is fulfilling what he was Christian Brothers Academy graduate, Ciro Saverin, beamed when he realized that his former teacher, “Doc Koch,” is now “Father Doc Koch.”
“He was a teacher, a mentor and a friend to all of us at CBA,” said Saverin, a member of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan. “He’s a man of faith.”
Back in Colombia, the ordination Mass was experienced via live stream by the family of Father Aguirre. Family members gathered in his parents’ home, where they shared food, tears and joy and watched together as Father Aguirre received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and began his ministry as a priest.
In the cathedral, however, Father Aguirre’s “family from the United States” – parishioners from Holy Eucharist, Tabernacle – were more than happy to attend the ordination.
“He is such a spiritual person and a loving person,” said Marion Lauterborn. “He is always smiling. He will make a wonderful priest.”
Among the Father Rojas supporters were his parents, Jorge Rojas and Limbania Hernandez and priestfriends Father Gustavo Morales and Father Favio Henao, who journeyed from Colombia, as well as a contingent from St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, where he served a summer assignment there in 2011 and as a transitional deacon last year.
Limbania Hernandez spoke warmly about the love her son, Juan Gabriel, has for the Lord and how meaningful it was for her to see him ordained a priest.
“We simply love Juan,” said Dominique Vitiello, a member of St. Catharine Parish. “Being that his family lives in Colombia, we’ve become his adopted family here in the United States.”
Describing Father Rojas as being a “charismatic, dynamic, inspirational” man who loves the Lord, Vitiello said, “he is everything that God would want in a priest.”
The parishes where the new priests have been assigned by Bishop O’Connell to serve as parochial vicar are: Father Aguirre and Father Koch to St. Joseph Parish, Toms River; Father Bedoya to St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, and Father Rojas to St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford.
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By Mary Stadnyk|News Editor
Priests are ordained “to form, to reform, to inform and to transform” the parish communities to which they are sent and the people they serve, proclaimed Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., before he ordained four new priests for the Diocese of Trenton June 1.
Invoking the words of his brother bishop, Bishop George Thomas of the Diocese of Helena, Mont., Bishop O’Connell told the men that before a priest can carry out his ministry effectively, he must first in his own life have been “formed, reformed, informed and transformed” by the Word of God. The Class of 2013 was the third group of priests the bishop ordained since becoming diocesan bishop three years ago. They were Father Carlos Aguirre, 31, Father Jorge Bedoya, 34, Father Garry R. Koch, 55, and Father Juan Gabriel Rojas, 28.
Looking out to an energetic, joy-filled gathering of more than 600 family members, friends and parishioners who came to St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, to witness the ordination, and the 70 priest concelebrants, an enthusiastic Bishop O’Connell extended heartfelt appreciation to the men who willingly offered “their lives to our Church to serve as priests.”
Setting a tone of exuberance that drew several rounds of applause, standing ovations and cheers from the congregation throughout the Mass, Bishop O’Connell said, “They’re ready, they’re willing, they can’t wait” to be ordained.
As the solemn Mass and Rite of Ordination marked the culmination of the formal faith formation process for each of the men – some of whom spent many years discerning their call to priesthood – Bishop O’Connell emphasized the life-changing reality that comes with ordination, “My brothers, you belong to Christ, to his Church, to your brother priests and to the people of the Diocese of Trenton.”
“For them you have already been consecrated in the truth; for them you will be ordained priests; for them you will be sent into the world to join the ranks of those who have come before you and with whom you will share a life and ministry.”
Quoting a homily once given by Pope Benedict XVI who referred to the priest as being “the bridge between God and his people,” Bishop O’Connell cited that the Holy Father had said, “it is through the preaching and ministry of the priest that the people come face to face with their Lord. Because of this, people expect to see in us as priests, in you, more than a man; they expect to see and hear and touch the Lord and we cannot let them down.”
“That is our call. That is our consecration,” said Bishop O’Connell.
A Priest Forever
The Rite of Ordination began as Rev. Messrs. Aguirre, Bedoya, Koch and Rojas came before Bishop O’Connell who announced that they had been chosen for the order of priesthood. Father Dennis Apoldite, director of the diocesan House of Priestly Formation, called the candidates forth. Each candidate told the bishop he came willingly and faithfully to the priesthood and then each man promised his obedience to the authority of the Church.
The four men then prostrated themselves on the floor before the altar as the Diocesan Festival Choir led the congregation in the chanting of the Litany of Saints. All prayed for the intercession of the saints, including the patron saints of the ordinands, to send the Holy Spirit down upon the new priests.
Bishop O’Connell ordained each man by laying his hands on their heads and praying silently, invoking the Holy Spirit upon each. The concelebrating priests who were in attendance then laid hands on the heads of the ordinands, signifying their sharing in one priesthood.
The newly ordained priests were then assisted by a brother priest to replace the vestments of the deacon with the stole and chasuble, the garments worn by the priests at Mass.
Father Aguirre’s vesting priest was his friend and mentor, Father Alexy Roldan of Colombia; Father Walter Quiceno, who was ordained last year and is parochial vicar of St. Jerome Parish, West Long Branch, was vesting priest for Father Bedoya; Father Joseph Farrell, pastor of Assumption Parish, New Egypt, was vesting priest for Father Koch; Msgr. Eugene Rebeck, pastor of St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, was vesting priest for Father Rojas.
The four priests once again knelt before the bishop as he anointed their palms. Following the presentation of the gifts by family members of the new priests, Bishop O’Connell presented each man with a paten and chalice, which went on to hold the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Each of the concelebrants greeted the new priests with a sign of peace in the form of an embrace. The new priests then joined Bishop O’Connell at the altar for the celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist for the first time. The first blessing that the newly ordained gave was to Bishop O’Connell, who knelt before each of them at the end of the Mass.
Sharing in their Joy
Among the throng who streamed into the cathedral that morning were family members and friends of the ordinands, including those had traveled from Colombia to share in their loved one’s special day. At least six busloads of parishioners filled the cathedral, representing communities where the men had served during their seminary formation and parish assignments.
In the weeks leading up to ordination day, Msgr. Richard LaVerghetta and the staff and parishioners in St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, have been cheering “Hip, Hip Jorge,” letting everyone know how elated they are that Father Bedoya, who served his transitional diaconate year assignment there, will be returning to the parish as parochial vicar at the end of June.
“He’s very happy and he’s very spiritual,” said parishioner, Dr. Catherine Michon, who spoke of how much she enjoyed getting to know Father Bedoya and learning his vocation story.
Fabian Osorio smiled as he shared how happy he was to make the trip from Colombia to see his good friend, Jorge, ordained a priest.
Tears welled in Phyllis Koch’s eyes as she reflected her son, Garry’s lifelong desire to be a priest. Though as a young man Father Koch had initially started to prepare for the priesthood, he “detoured” in his career path, spending 28 years as a religious studies teacher in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft.
“He was meant to be at Christian Brothers Academy,” said Koch. “In that time, he was helping to shape future fathers and leaders. But being a priest was always in his heart and today he is fulfilling what he was Christian Brothers Academy graduate, Ciro Saverin, beamed when he realized that his former teacher, “Doc Koch,” is now “Father Doc Koch.”
“He was a teacher, a mentor and a friend to all of us at CBA,” said Saverin, a member of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan. “He’s a man of faith.”
Back in Colombia, the ordination Mass was experienced via live stream by the family of Father Aguirre. Family members gathered in his parents’ home, where they shared food, tears and joy and watched together as Father Aguirre received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and began his ministry as a priest.
In the cathedral, however, Father Aguirre’s “family from the United States” – parishioners from Holy Eucharist, Tabernacle – were more than happy to attend the ordination.
“He is such a spiritual person and a loving person,” said Marion Lauterborn. “He is always smiling. He will make a wonderful priest.”
Among the Father Rojas supporters were his parents, Jorge Rojas and Limbania Hernandez and priestfriends Father Gustavo Morales and Father Favio Henao, who journeyed from Colombia, as well as a contingent from St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, where he served a summer assignment there in 2011 and as a transitional deacon last year.
Limbania Hernandez spoke warmly about the love her son, Juan Gabriel, has for the Lord and how meaningful it was for her to see him ordained a priest.
“We simply love Juan,” said Dominique Vitiello, a member of St. Catharine Parish. “Being that his family lives in Colombia, we’ve become his adopted family here in the United States.”
Describing Father Rojas as being a “charismatic, dynamic, inspirational” man who loves the Lord, Vitiello said, “he is everything that God would want in a priest.”
The parishes where the new priests have been assigned by Bishop O’Connell to serve as parochial vicar are: Father Aguirre and Father Koch to St. Joseph Parish, Toms River; Father Bedoya to St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, and Father Rojas to St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford.